Denise Sherman: Message to Obama (Transcript)

Denise Sherman is a heartbroken, grieving mother.

She lost her beloved son, Benjamin - U.S. Army Spc. Benjamin Sherman.

He died in Afghanistan, trying to save a fellow soldier.

Denise Sherman is getting a lot of local and national attention because of her message to Obama, but there's more to her remarks. She speaks about her son. Her daughter, Meredith, also talks about her beloved brother.

If this doesn't personalize the loss and the sacrifice made by the families of our brave men and women in the Armed Forces, I don't know what does.

Transcript

DENISE SHERMAN: First, we'd like to say, Benjamin, you are our hero. I know that you don't know him personally, so I would like to share a little bit about him.

He was raised under the American flag to be honorable, loyal, respectful, and courteous. He was strong-willed and he was never a quitter. I raised him with the understanding that when you choose to do something you do it to the best of your ability. He was powerful, ingenuitive, and determined. Perhaps now you will understand why he fit in the Army so well. We called him the unstoppable one.

There are many strong believers in the power of prayer, including Benjamin's family, his friends, and his colleagues. I am requesting, because we are one nation under God, that you ask our nation to come together in prayer -- to pray for all those who are missing to persevere, to pray for his comrade's family, to be found safe and returned home, for those who have gone before us and have made the sacrifice to this country, and for those who serve our great nation, to be guided and protected.

We have volunteer Armed Forces, which gives amazing credit to those who serve us. I pray for the leaders every day that they are guided to make good decisions.

This is to the president of the United States: It is time, it is time to make a decision. I would say to my son, 'Sleep, think, make a decision, and you support that decision.' And it is time. Let us not forget.

This is my daughter, Meredith, and wonderful sister, and she wants to speak.

MEREDITH SHERMAN: First of all, I just want to say to my brother that Ben, I love you more than anything, and I miss you so much. You will always be my hero and my guardian angel.

My brother is the type of man whose values are honor, respect, and standing up for what you believe in. More importantly, he was all about brotherhood. He would consider every single soldier, friend, or even a stranger, even you, his brother. I know the day that he jumped into the river to try and save his comrade was not because he didn't just see another soldier in the water, but because he saw his brother. He didn't jump in because he was trained to, but because his heart told him to. There's not a doubt in my mind that he would do the same for each and every single individual, not only in the United States but anywhere in the world.

I love my brother more than anything. And I am heartbroken at the loss that we are suffering. He was fun-loving and brave and he was full of life. And everything he did, he did it 150 percent. He put his heart and soul into anything and everything. He loved tattoos and music and drums and he was an avid Boston sports fan. He loved the Red Sox. But most importantly, family -- He loved his family. He didn't consider his friends his friends. He considered them his family, his brothers and sisters.

He was the perfect brother, even when he teased me as little kids. We always had a close bond. He was an amazing brother, husband, son, and soldier. And I will never forget him. And I hope you can find it in your heart to pray for Benjamin and his fellow comrades. And I want to personally thank each and every soldier fighting for our freedom. Please ask the nation to come together for all of us.

REPORTER: You added one line in your written statement regarding the president... [Inaudible] (Asks for clarification about Denise Sherman's comments to the president)

DENISE SHERMAN: I think it's time that a decision is made, that this country come together and support our troops, or whatever he decides. God will guide him. But it's time. It's time.

REPORTER: Either more or less, or come or go or...?

DENISE SHERMAN: I support his decision whichever it may be. But it's time that we do something. This has gone on too long. They either need to come home or we need to end it.

Video, long version (4:51)

Video, short version (1:20)