On Friday, March 20, the students of Central Hardin all left their classrooms and lectures behind to humbly gather together outside under the warm afternoon sun. American Flags staked the ground, creating a path as a mournful line of cars slowly turned tires across the asphalt. These cars came through Central’s parking lot in a procession to Glendale Christian Church to pay homage to the late Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington.
Pennington, a 2017 Central Hardin graduate, was only 26 years old when he was injured overseas during Operation Epic Fury. Days later, on March 8, he had paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
But he was living his dream.
His dream was not dying, but to fight for what he loved: his country, his people, and always doing what was right.
It was as early as kindergarten that Pennington had his mind set on becoming one of America’s bravest.
“I love America because I want to fight for my country,” he wrote, in the chunky block letters that only come from little hands.
It didn’t take long for him to achieve his dream. As a young boy, he joined the Cub Scouts until eventually becoming an Eagle Scout, decorated with an ocean of badges.
“And he had a great group of young men around him that were also fellow scouts with him, that, what they called, was their brotherhood,” his father, Central’s track coach, Tim Pennington, said.
He says that sense of loyalty, of camaraderie, held true into Pennington’s military career. He had found his team. From being a 92 Yankee to becoming a jump master and paratrooper, Pennington was quickly apt at his job. And he loved it.
“He loved to jump out of a plane for no good reason,” said Coach Pennington.
He was the epitome of an All-American kid, a patriot. A boy who played sports, ran track, and who was a model student. A man who grew up loving history and the Civil War and had stacks upon stacks of books about it, who made his career out of serving his country. But these things did not make him the great hero that he was.
Above all else, Ben Pennington was compassionate.
“I honestly can only say good things about [Ben] because he was a really nice person. I think he gets some of that naturally from his parents and sister, who I think of very highly as they are really good people,” James Sisk, a former teacher of Pennington, wrote.
It’s clear it takes a wonderful family to raise and support the kind of man Pennington turned out to be. They raised a thoughtful, selfless man. There are countless stories reflecting so.
Math teacher Samantha Dale, a friend of the Pennington family and fellow track coach, spoke about just how much Pennington spread his kindness to every person he encountered.
“He saw people where they were and he just wanted them to know that other people thought about them,” she said.
Tim Pennington shared the story of someone who spoke to him highly about his son.
“There was one young man who came through and said, ‘you don’t know me, but I went to school with your son. When I was in school, I was bullied… your son never treated me that way.”
Ben Pennington was also generous, unabashedly so. A friend in need was a friend in need, no matter what that might have required of him. His father expressed some of the many ways he tried to help those he cared for.
“As a dad, I was always on his bank account with him. I’m like, why is he not saving more money? But at the end of the day, when I hear the stories about what he was doing with some of his money, it doesn’t matter. He was doing what he thought was right, and he was doing good stuff,” he said.
Principal Kim Case said she had learned many great things about Pennington in her time coordinating his services.
“He is reflective of all things good… everything you hope that a person can be. He was humble to a fault. He helped others without wanting any attention or recognition,” she said.
That was the common theme throughout Pennington’s time with us. He was a ray of light in the life of every one he crossed paths with. He was all-around servant-hearted, always striving to make someone’s life just a tiny bit better. He made people feel seen. He made people feel loved.
“No doubt his dream to serve his country at an early age showed his dedication to being a good citizen and a wonderful representation of Central Hardin High School. Ben is someone that will definitely be missed as he represented the best of us all,” said Sisk.
And to the students of Central Hardin, we can all learn something from Pennington: how to be a wonderful human being, and how to leave the world a better place. When asked how he wished others to honor his son’s legacy, Mr. Pennington replied simply, “Just be a good person.”
It is without a doubt that Pennington has left an unbelievable mark on the hearts all of those who had the honor of knowing him. May we never forget his kindness or his sacrifice. Central Hardin will forever miss Ben Pennington. He represented the best a Bruin could be, the best we could all be.
(This article has been featured in our end of year magazine, Magnified. You can purchase a copy as a keepsake)
