USO Media Room dedicated to soldier’s ultimate sacrifice
President Harry Truman once said “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have our undying gratitude.”
To Lowe’s and the USO of North Carolina, these words reverberate in the memory of Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hines, who was killed in action on April 8, 2019, in Afghanistan, alongside fellow U.S. Marines Robert A. Hendriks and Christopher K.A. Slutman.
Staff Sgt. Hines was the son of Lowe’s Store Manager, Scott Hines and joined the Marines out of high school, eventually serving as a commander in the JROTC while at Dallastown, Pennsylvania. He earned more than a dozen awards and completed two previous combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Benjamin lived the red, white and blue not only in his Marine life, but in his personal life also,” said Scott Hines, Benjamin’s father and Lowe’s store manager in Wilmington, North Carolina. “We are so proud of what he represented as a person and he is missed by many, specifically his family, fiancé and fellow Marines.”
After learning of Staff Sgt. Hines sacrifice, Lowe’s military associates accompanied Scott Hines to Arlington National Cemetery last Memorial Day, where he was a special guest for the Laying of the Wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To further honor Hines this month, Lowe’s and the USO of North Carolina unveiled the Staff Sgt. Benjamin S. Hines Media Room at the USO’s oldest center in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The room, once used by Benjamin as a Marine, is fully renovated with state-of-the-art amenities, a plaque and pictures of Hines throughout.
“We are forever indebted to the service and leadership Staff Sgt. Hines gave and continues to give through all those he has touched, and those who continue to serve, said Jim Whaley, CEO and President, USO of NC. “This media room is a testament to his bravery, where his memory will never be forgotten.”
Founded by a WWII veteran in 1946, Lowe’s has a longstanding appreciation for the military community, whether they are a customer, supplier or one of its 20,000 military associates. Learn more about Lowe’s military commitment.
