Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne will be the keynote speaker at the American Heroes Dinner July 26
photo by Travis Mills Foundation
Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the American Heroes Dinner on Friday, July 26. This signature event celebrates the service and sacrifice of our military heroes and is held annually at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne will participate as the keynote speaker.
On April 10, 2012, Travis was critically injured while on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device), losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Travis is now a motivational speaker and international advocate for veterans and amputees. When the incident happened, medics rushed over to Mills, tying tourniquets around his four limbs to stop the bleeding. “In my head, I’m not going to make it,” Mills recounted. “I’ve seen guys die from a lot less. I told my medics, ‘Don’t worry about me; you’re not gonna save me. Go fix my guys.’”
The medics put Mills on a chopper to Kandahar where he was rushed into surgery, the first of which lasted 14 hours. He’d need more than 30 blood transfusions. He woke up from a coma on his birthday, which was when he learned the extent of his injuries.
A 'recalibrated warrior', Travis continues to astound friends and family alike with his progress and amazing spirit. He founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a retreat center in Maine for wounded veterans and their families.
This event serves as a fundraiser for the Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation, which was formed in 2013 when SGT Andrew Smith (US Army Retired) and his wife Tori returned from almost two years at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation is committed to assisting catastrophically wounded veterans and their families. According to foundation representative, Catherine Smith, “As an all-volunteer organization, participation in the American Heroes Dinner helps us fulfill our mission of ensuring those who paid an extreme price for liberty and freedom will continue to thrive post-injury.”
Registration is open at www.honoringthesacrifice.com.