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A Hero's Heart: Injured Marine Welcomed Home After Months' Recuperation From Roadside Bomb Attack, Awarded Purple Heart By Sen. Kent Conrad.

Posted on: Saturday, 3 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

By Kyle Johnson, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Jun. 3--Several hundred people welcomed back a Grand Forks Marine at the Alerus center Friday evening.

Lance Cpl. Ben Lunak, 22, was injured in a roadside bomb explosion on Feb. 28 in Iraq and spent the weeks since then recovering in military hospitals until his return May 20 to Grand Forks. The incident caused serious injuries to Lunak, resulting in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.

The "Welcome Back Ben" event was well attended by the public and included remarks by Sen. Kent Conrad, Rep. Earl Pomeroy and Gov. John Hoeven, among others.

"It's important to show respect for the people that are defending the freedoms of our country," said UND student Matt D'Antonio, who attended the event. "We have to show them that we care."

Conrad recreated a Purple Heart ceremony with Lunak at the event. He was originally given the medal while recovering at the hospital on March 8. Created by George Washington in 1782, the Purple Heart is given to members of the armed forces who are wounded in combat.

"I could not be more proud or more appreciative of Ben's courage and sacrifice," Conrad said. "He is an incredibly brave young man who risked his life in service to our nation. North Dakota and our nation owe Ben a tremendous debt of gratitude."

Pomeroy and Conrad also presented Lunak with a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol for a day.

"It felt great to be here," Lunak said after the event. "I had no idea that what happened to me was so important to so many people."

While thanking those who have shown him support during his recovery, Lunak had a hard time holding the tears back. His sister, Erica, finished his speech for him.

"It was a really traumatic thing he went through only a couple of months ago," she said.

Military support

Many veterans and current soldiers attended the event to support their fellow soldier.

The East Grand Forks VFW branch presented Lunak with a lifetime membership to their organization. A local branch of the Disabled American Veterans also presented Lunak with a lifetime membership and an official jacket at the event.

And Soldiers' Angels regional director Shelle Michaels said the group would give Lunak a laptop to help him with college.

Rocky Graziano, the master of ceremonies and a retired military member, said he was honored to be able to serve at the event.

"I don't deserve to be up on this stage with this man," he said. "He's a courageous young man, and I'm just proud to have been associated with him in any way."

Erica Lunak said attendance at the event was good considering that planning began only about three weeks ago.

"This event just kind of represents how great our community is," she said. "They have been behind us all the way, and that has helped a lot."

Ben will be returning to Washington soon to complete medical retirement forms, and then will return to Grand Forks to continue his rehabilitation at Altru Hospital.

He said he is looking forward to leading a more normal life now, and will be attending UND in the fall. He is considering pursuing a career in physical or occupational therapy so he can help others adjust to their prosthetics, he said.

Johnson is a student intern from UND. Reach him at (701) 780-1107, (800) 477-6572, ext. 107; or kjohnson@gfherald.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

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