Quarterback Takes Friend With Down Syndrome to Prom, Fulfilling Elementary School Promise

Ever since Mary Lapkowicz and Ben Moser were in fourth grade they have had a special friendship. Their teacher noticed how Ben would try really hard to include her in activities and make sure she was having fun.

"He just always watched out for her", their teacher said.

"I thought Mary was really cool," said Ben. "She was sweet and easy to get along with."

"He was sweet and he was nice," said Mary regarding Ben.

Around the end of the year, Ben attended his cousin's prom walk and told his mother when he was old enough, he would ask Mary to go to prom with him.

But a couple of years later, Mary moved away. By the time she was in high school, she was assisting her father with football coaching. Ben also played football and when their two teams played against each other their paths crossed again. 

"She talked about going to prom," Mary's father said. "I'd taken her to homecoming and stuff, but she had prom on her mind all along."

Mary had no idea that Ben would follow up on that vow he had made so long ago.

"We got balloons and I wrote 'prom' on it," Ben said. "I presented her with the balloons and asked her to go to prom with me."

"I was surprised," Mary admitted, smiling. "I was going to go with some friends."

But she was overjoyed to be going with Ben.

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