By Shanda Block/entertainment editor
Benny, a World War I veteran that Texas lawyer Jim Lane once defended, had been in every Veterans Day parade in his hometown since 1919.
But the 105-year-old veteran almost missed the parade that happened the same year he met Lane, who spoke during the NE Campus Luncheon Honoring Veterans last week.
The luncheon featured Lane along with ROTC members who performed a flag ceremony. The room was decorated with copies of various historical documents about veterans.
Lane focused on Benny most of his speech. Benny had hired Lane to defend him in a case that involved the veteran shooting his nephew five times.
“There was this slightly built black man on a walker,” Lane said, regarding his first time meeting the old-timer. Benny shot his nephew, who Lane said was addicted to crack, because the nephew tried to steal money from the older man.
The nephew survived, but Benny went to jail.
After being in jail for three weeks, Benny told Lane he was sick of it. If he stayed in jail, he told Lane, he’d miss the parade.
When the case went to trial, Lane told the jury about Benny being in all the Veterans Day parades as he talked about his client.
After a long trial, the jury ruled in favor of Benny.
They told Benny he needed to go to remedial shooting school because he only made four out of five shots at his nephew. He missed him once.
After his release, Benny participated in the parade that year.
He died just five days later.
Hector Jalomo, a veteran attending the speech, said he was touched by Lane’s story.
“It had a little bit of history,” Jalomo said, “It had a lot of emotion about his meeting this 105-year-old World War I veteran.”
Larry Darlage, NE Campus president, had a few comments about Lane’s speech and the event.
“It’s an honor for me to recognize the veterans on campus and to be able to thank them for their service to the country,” Darlage said.
