The Lost Coin of a U. S. Defense Department official

(Revised in respect of the official's privacy (2-5-09)

About two year ago I was flying to Denver. I had my schoolwork from Biola University ready for the three hour flight. This was valuable time and I was a new student. Part of the project was in time-management and I was to write down everything I did for 24 hours. As I started studying, the man in the seat next to me started talking to me. I was polite but I really wanted to get going on my studies as this was the first class in Organizational Leadership at Biola University. I wanted this uninterrupted time to study. He continued to talk so I finally figured that instead of learning about Christianity, I should demonstrate it by being a better listener. Eventually I learned that this man was a high ranking official in the Defense Department.

He has lead a fascinating life. He told me of his life in the Pentagon, working with the President, Donald Rumsfield and Dick Cheney. Near the end of our trip, as we were getting close to landing in Denver, he showed me a coin. It is his personal coin. It has the flag that is flown wherever he goes. I looked at it and he told me the military tradition that if he gave his coin to you and if you didn't have it with you, and it was within the next 24 hours, you had to buy the officer's club a round of drinks. Secretary Rumsfield left his personal coin at the site of the plane crash in Shanksville, Pa. on 9-11. Then he gave me his coin. I thought it was so cool that I kept it with me, telling people about the story and just holding it in my hand. Just touching it. It was about 1 3/4 inches in diameter and fairly heavy. Finally it hit me. I should make my own coin. There were many occasions when I spoke of my relationship with the Lord and it would be nice to give that person a gift. There are other times when I just want to say thank you and this could be a way of doing it. Luckily, a man I worked with, Daniel Garmus, used to design coins for McDonnell Douglas, so I had him put my ideas into the design.

I had 100 of them made and have given away quite a few of them. I wrote to my friend and sent one to him in thanks for him being the inspiration. He was gracious enough to remember me and I sent it to him. About two months ago, I realized that the story seemed to be better if I had his coin with me. So I kept his coin and one of my coins with me to remind me about speaking of the Gospel. Unfortunately, sometime near Christmas, I must have given out his coin instead of mine. I was heart-broken and very embarrassed. I e-mailed him at Christmas but never heard back from him. With the change of administrations, I wanted to see what his plans were (and broach the subject of a replacement coin). He answered this Saturday at 6:00 in the morning. I was thrilled. He has been asked by the new administration to stay on until a replacement is named and confirmed, which will take several months. He said he'd send me his new e-mail when he gets it. I then had to humble myself and tell him the story of the lost coin. "No problem" he said, "I'll send you another one." I was thrilled. I haven't received it yet but it will be here. I'm like a little kid waiting for my coin to return. It will not leave the safe in my house.

This is not my missing coin, but a similar one. I can't show the actual picture as it will reveal his identity and he asked that he'd "rather not to have my name out on the net in any form."