Rosemount Soldier Featured in Fallen Heroes Calendar

Rosemount Soldier Featured in Fallen Heroes Calendar

03.14.11

A former Rosemount resident is featured in this year's Minnesota Fallen Heroes Remembered Calendar. The calendar features 12 Minnesota soldiers who have been killed while serving their country.

Army Ranger Ben Kopp, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan, is featured in July, the month he was killed.

Tom McDonough is the head of the Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation, which is the selling the calendar. "This is the second year the calendar has been for sale," he said. "Last year we sold the 2,500 copies that were available and I'm hoping we can do as well this year."

McDonough said the calendar is the brainchild of Patricia Boyd, who has a son serving in the military. "She is active with the Ft. Snelling chapel and she had talked with several Gold Star mothers who were concerned that their sons would be forgotten. She came up with the calendar as a way to remember some of the soldiers who have been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan."

Tom and Renee McDonough established the Military Heroes Foundation in honor of their son's service to his country. Bryan McDonough was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom on Dec. 2, 2006.

The foundation raises money to support soldiers adjusting to life with the physical and psychological wounds of war. McDonough said that includes everything from providing purchasing a hand-pedaled bicycle for a soldier who lost both legs in an explosion in Sadr City to helping families of injured soldiers travel across the country to visit their loved one. "We try to fill the needs the military can’t fill for returning veterans and families of the fallen," said McDonough.

Proceeds from the calendar go to Fisher House, which provides free or low cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers. McDonough said that organization does the type of work that is sorely needed by military families and its mission fits in well with the efforts of the Military Heroes Foundation.

The calendar costs $10 can be purchased online at this link.

 It will be also be available this Thursday at Rosemount's American Legion Post 65. Patricia Boyd and Jill Stephenson (Ben Kopp's mother) will be on hand beginning at 5 p.m.