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.
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.
