The Best Christmas Story You NEVER Heard

[DrewKaree]

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/13462732.htm

Told it wouldn't stay up long, so JIC:

It started last Christmas, when Bennett and Vivian Levin were overwhelmed by sadness while listening to radio reports of injured American troops.

"We have to let them know we care," Vivian told Bennett.

So they organized a trip to bring soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philly, on Dec. 3.

The cool part is, they created their own train line to do it.

Yes, there are people in this country who actually own real trains. Bennett Levin - native Philly guy, self-made millionaire and irascible former L&I commish - is one of them.

He has three luxury rail cars. Think mahogany paneling, plush seating and white-linen dining areas. He also has two locomotives, which he stores at his Juniata Park train yard.

One car, the elegant Pennsylvania, carried John F. Kennedy to the Army-Navy game in 1961 and '62. Later, it carried his brother Bobby's body to D.C. for burial.

"That's a lot of history for one car," says Bennett.

He and Vivian wanted to revive a tradition that endured from 1936 to 1975, during which trains carried Army-Navy spectators from around the country directly to the stadium where the annual game is played.

The Levins could think of no better passengers to reinstate the ceremonial ride than the wounded men and women recovering at Walter Reed in D.C. and Bethesda, in Maryland.

"We wanted to give them a first-class experience," says Bennett. "Gourmet meals on board, private transportation from the train to the stadium, perfect seats - real hero treatment."

Through the Army War College Foundation, of which he is a trustee, Bennett met with Walter Reed's commanding general, who loved the idea.

But Bennett had some ground rules first, all designed to keep the focus on the troops alone:

No press on the trip, lest the soldiers' day of pampering devolve into a media circus.

No politicians either, because, says Bennett, "I didn't want some idiot making this trip into a campaign photo op."

And no Pentagon suits on board, otherwise the soldiers would be too busy saluting superiors to relax.

The general agreed to the conditions, and Bennett realized he had a problem on his hands.

"I had to actually make this thing happen," he laughs.

Over the next months, he recruited owners of 15 other sumptuous rail cars from around the country - these people tend to know each other - into lending their vehicles for the day. The name of their temporary train?

The Liberty Limited.

Amtrak volunteered to transport the cars to D.C. - where they'd be coupled together for the round-trip ride to Philly - then back to their owners later.

Conrail offered to service the Liberty while it was in Philly. And SEPTA drivers would bus the disabled soldiers 200 yards from the train to Lincoln Financial Field, for the game.

A benefactor from the War College ponied up 100 seats to the game - on the 50-yard line - and lunch in a hospitality suite.

And corporate donors filled, for free and without asking for publicity, goodie bags for attendees:

From Woolrich, stadium blankets. From Wal-Mart, digital cameras. From Nikon, field glasses. From GEAR, down jackets.

There was booty not just for the soldiers, but for their guests, too, since each was allowed to bring a friend or family member.

The Marines, though, declined the offer. "They voted not to take guests with them, so they could take more Marines," says Levin, choking up at the memory.

Bennett's an emotional guy, so he was worried about how he'd react to meeting the 88 troops and guests at D.C.'s Union Station, where the trip originated. Some GIs were missing limbs. Others were wheelchair-bound or accompanied by medical personnel for the day.

"They made it easy to be with them," he says. "They were all smiles on the ride to Philly. Not an ounce of self-pity from any of them. They're so full of life and determination."

At the stadium, the troops reveled in the game, recalls Bennett. Not even Army's lopsided loss to Navy could deflate the group's rollicking mood.

Afterward, it was back to the train and yet another gourmet meal - heroes get hungry, says Levin - before returning to Walter Reed and Bethesda.

"The day was spectacular," says Levin. "It was all about these kids. It was awesome to be part of it."

The most poignant moment for the Levins was when 11 Marines hugged them goodbye, then sang them the Marine Hymn on the platform at Union Station.

"One of the guys was blind, but he said, 'I can't see you, but man, you must be f---ing beautiful!' " says Bennett. "I got a lump so big in my throat, I couldn't even answer him."

It's been three weeks, but the Levins and their guests are still feeling the day's love.

"My Christmas came early," says Levin, who is Jewish and who loves the Christmas season. "I can't describe the feeling in the air."

Maybe it was hope.

As one guest wrote in a thank-you note to Bennett and Vivian, "The fond memories generated last Saturday will sustain us all - whatever the future may bring."

God bless the Levins.

And bless the troops, every one.

[saint]

Snopes says....

True!

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/train.asp

[JackTucky]

Curious, why do you think the link might stop working?

Evil liberals at work?

Art

[saint]

Mmmm it's a daily newspaper and soon that won't be daily news anymore?

[Geekboy]

Wow, that's great!  Awesome story!

[DrewKaree]

Mmmm it's a daily newspaper and soon that won't be daily news anymore?

Bingo! 

That, and it's already been a while since it was first written.  Just check any of the newspaper links around here.  I'm surprised it was still up when I found it.

Thanks to saint's link, some pics of the train

[USSEnterprise]

tthats an oldie

[DrewKaree]

tthats an oldie

*edit*

happy "durrrrr"day to me! 

[Kremmit]

I think he meant the train looks old.

[shmokes]

That Christmas story has nothing on this one, written by a close personal friend so I personally can verify its authenticity.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Maybe it's that I'm not a big sports fan, but I would have spent my money making sure these guys get prosthetic limbs and proper therapy (mental/physical).

Taking them to a football game is certainly a nice gesture though.


mrC

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Curious, why do you think the link might stop working?

Evil liberals at work?

Art

From the article, "No press on the trip, lest the soldiers' day of pampering devolve into a media circus."

So now it's the "libruuul" media's fault for not covering a story that the organizer didn't want covered? Based on both Drew's headline using "NEVER heard", and your tongue-in-cheek insinuation, it seems you both are creating controversy were there shouldn't really be any.


mrC

[markrvp]

DON'T FEED THE TROLL!

[Dartful Dodger]

it seems you both are creating controversy were there shouldn't really be any.

That's like the pot calling the kettle something politically incorrect.

[missioncontrol]

Oldie?

[ChadTower]

Sounds like it was a great day.

[nostrebor]

I continue to be impressed by Marines who seem to always be looking out for each other. A fine example of selfless acts by the benefactor and the troops.

[ChadTower]

If the men of the corps were not of that nature they would not be Marines to begin with.

[USSEnterprise]

I think he meant the train looks old.

correct

[nostrebor]

If the men of the corps were not of that nature they would not be Marines to begin with.

With your permission... may I still be impressed?

[ChadTower]

You should be, as we all should be.

[DrewKaree]

That Christmas story has nothing on this one, written by a close personal friend so I personally can verify its authenticity.

"currently disabled"

DON'T FEED THE TROLL!

AAACCKCKCKCKCKCKKC!  RRRRRUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNN!

[duffjr]

That Christmas story has nothing on this one, written by a close personal friend so I personally can verify its authenticity.

2 thumbs up for the chicks.  one thumb up for the car.  two thumbs up for the story.

[shmokes]

2 thumbs up for the chicks.  one thumb up for the car.  two thumbs up for the story.

Thanks.  My first rule in life is:  Surround yourself with beautiful women.  My second rule of life is:  If they are cool and funny as hell, all the better.  My third rule in life is: Driving a ---smurfy--- car can be completely redeemed by being hot.

[koolmoecraig]

There is no such thing as a funny woman.

[ChadTower]

I've found this mostly true too.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

There is no such thing as a funny woman.

You just have to stop hanging around with bitter hags. Or creating them... whichever.
I've got a slew of female friends that crack my sh!t up on a regular basis. My fiance' included. She's one of few people (regardless of gender) that can get me consistently belly-laughing.



mrC