Medals designed with U.S. soldiers in mind
By CAROL HOPKINS Of The Oakland Press

Pat Benincasa shows a drawing of the Joan of Arc medal she designed to support American troops.

Waterford Township native Pat Benincasa couldn't shake a feeling this spring.

"I couldn't get it out of my head that our troops didn't have the body armor they need," said Benincasa, an artist and teacher who now works in St. Paul, Minn.

Two years before, she had started a painting of French heroine Joan of Arc but hadn't completed it.

On April 8, she walked into her studio, looked at the unfinished painting and "knew instantly" that she was going to create a medal using Joan of Arc's image.

"The medal would be a different kind of body armor," she explained.

For five days after that, Benincasa toiled in her studio.

"I have been on fire with this project since that morning," she exclaimed.

The resulting medal depicts Joan of Arc on a charger. About 1.5-inches long, the diestruck pendant set on a scroll is made with an alloy and covered with an antique gold finish.

The "jump ring" — a jeweler's term — attached at the top of the medal is extra heavy, Benincasa stated, so soldiers can easily attach "Joan" to their dog tags.

"I wanted something durable," said Benincasa, who is in her 50s.

She e-mailed her large family about the art, including her brother, Gary Benning, owner of Waterford's Airway Lanes.

"Next thing I know they want to donate toward making medals," she said. "I thought, holy smokes. The money started to come in."

Benincasa placed an order for 1,000 medals. Her brother Gary suggested creating packets with 30, 50 and 100 medals in each so schools or groups could buy them, she said.

Benning was happy to help, he said.

"It's really a neat thing," he noted.

The packets will also have small cards and envelopes included for people or students to write a note to the soldiers.

The medals are currently in production and Benincasa expects her first big shipment soon.

Although she has no members of her family serving in the military, Benincasa feels a connection to the men and women serving, she said.

"I want soldiers to know people are thinking about them over here," she said. "My hope is that they put Joan on their dog tags and know that they are not alone.

"Joan is at their side and close to their heart."