A hero’s welcome

Travis Mills has done a lot to bring attention to wounded combat veterans, starting with his own recovery from losing portions of all of his limbs in an IED explosion during his third tour in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division.

His journey led him to coin the term “recalibrated veteran” and to start the Travis Mills Foundation, which helps veterans and their families.

On May 16, Mills was in town as the guest of honor at a celebration at On Top of the World’s Circle Square Cultural Center, which included the screening of “Travis: A Soldier’s Story,” an award-winning production of the nonprofit organization Fotolanthropy.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners declared Thursday Travis Mills Day and some of the members were on hand at the event, including Craig Curry. Also in attendance was Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano and members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard, with the posting and retiring of the colors led by Donald Kennedy, Senior Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy retried.

Mills personal mantra is “Never give up. Never quit.” He hosted the recent Never Give Up On Country benefit concert at Silver Springs State Park as well as two previous concerts at the World Equestrian Center, with proceeds to benefit the foundation.

Mills was one of only five quadruple amputees from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. During his 19-month recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he coined the term ‘recalibrated veteran,’ for a person who experienced permanent injuries while in military service, healed and recalibrated to their new normal,” according to the foundation.

The Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat in Rome, Maine, has served post-911 recalibrated veterans and their families from throughout the country since 2017, including Matt Brady of Ocala. Another Ocala connection to the foundation is Linda Bammann, who is on the board of directors.

Mills is the author of “Tough as They Come,” a “New York Times” bestselling memoir, and is working on a second book.

To learn more about the foundation, go to travismillsfoundation.org

For information about the film, visit travisthemovie.com