Grateful American Coin

Largo, Florida -- Deb Benson is always on the lookout for men and women who are currently serving or have served in the military so she can honor them with a word of thanks, and a beautiful military coin.

Benson spotted a car with an Army sticker in the parking lot of Starbucks in Largo. Inside, she found Ronald L. McDonald, who served in the Army during the Vietnam war. With a handshake she slips him a coin and tells him, "From a grateful American to a hero, thank you."

What a nice gesture. Few people ever say thank you, states McDonald. What started as a lesson to teach her two young children patriotism has blossomed into Grateful American Coin, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Since December 2007, 10,650 coins have been given to men and women who have served or are currently serving in our Armed Forces. "When we started, we ordered the 2,000 coins. We thought we would offer them to others and any profits would be donated to a charity to assist injured servicemen and women. We have been overwhelmed by the response," states Benson.

As founder of Grateful American Coin, Benson's mission is to provide Americans a tangible way to display their gratitude to those who serve our country, while simultaneously assisting to meet the needs of severely injured men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The organization's first birthday was celebrated in December 2008 and Benson was able to make donations to The Special Operations Warrior Foundation and America's Vet Dogs totaling $21,471.33. Starting in December 2008,

Grateful American Coin will raise funds to support The Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Paws For Patriots, which is a program that supplies service dogs for veterans.

"People react differently. But for the most part, there is not a lot of emotion right away. Most will thank me and I will walk away. But when I look back, I see them reading the coin and what has just happened sinks in. Sometimes I will see them tear up and some have found me later to tell me how much the coin meant to them," states Benson.

According to Benson, "We are all unpaid volunteers. We want 100% of the net proceeds to help our servicemen and women. We are not military so this is our way of saying thanks and giving something back."

Information on obtaining coins can be obtained on their web site

www.GratefulAmericanCoin.org

or one can write to Grateful American Coin, 15307 Hammock Chase Ct., Odessa, FL 33556.

By Melody Jones