Dillon Family Hosts Dinner and Carnival to Benefit Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon Scholarship Fund
Community invited to attend event in memory of local fallen hero
(Edinburg, OH) April 3, 2008 " The family of fallen Army Ranger, Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon of Edinburg, is hosting a spaghetti dinner and family carnival on Saturday, April 12, from 5-7:30 p.m., at Southeast High School. Cost for the dinner will be $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. Dinner will include spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert, and beverage, with all proceeds going to the Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon Scholarship Fund.
"We hope that the community joins us in celebrating Ben and his joy for life. We miss him terribly but we are so proud of his service to our country," said event co-coordinator and one of many cousins, Melissa Dillon Dills. "Our goal at the event is to raise money for the scholarship that will be awarded this spring and many springs to come in Ben's honor."
The community event will feature a family carnival, featuring games and prizes for children. There will also be a silent auction for several themed baskets with various gifts and coupons from area vendors. For those who cannot attend the event, and would still like to donate to the Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon scholarship fund, donations may be made at any local Key Bank branch.
Cpl. Dillon, a life-long Edinburg resident and Army Ranger, was killed in Iraq on October 6, 2007, as a result of enemy fire in combat. The soldier was a 2004 graduate of Southeast High School, and entered the United States Army during his senior year on September 24, 2004. After completion of one station unit training and the Ranger Indoctrination Program, Cpl. Dillon was assigned to B Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Cpl. Dillon served as a rifleman, Grenadier, Automatic Rifleman, Machine Gunner and Gun Team Leader, in B Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. His last assignment was as a Gun Team Leader in B Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia.
Cpl. Dillon completed numerous military courses while serving in the United States Army, including the Ranger Indoctrination Program, The Ranger Course and the Basic Airborne Course. His awards and decoration include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
For more information about the Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon Scholarship Fund benefit, please contact Melissa Dillon Dills at: 330 687 7529, Judy French 330 296 8396 or Bev Nissel at 330 808 1114.