Jun 03 2022
Linda May | Macomb Daily
Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee from his U.S. Army service in Afghanistan, is the guest speaker at a rededication ceremony of the Gold Star Families memorial at 1 p.m. June 11 at the Clinton Township Civic Center, 40700 Romeo Plank Road, Clinton Township.
The Woody Williams Foundation and the Clinton Township Gold Star Families committee are putting on the event to present newly installed brick pavers that enhance the monument to “honor and serve Gold Star families and the legacy of their loved ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Mills grew up in Vassar, Mich., but now has a nonprofit retreat for veterans in the state of Maine. His memoir, “Tough as They Come” is a New York Times bestseller. His story is at: facebook.com/travismillsfoundation/videos/529421128787714. A People Magazine story about him is at people.com/home/travis-mills-veterans-retreat-quadruple-amputee-maine-vacation/
Other speakers include Scott Davis, and Maj. Gen. Daren L. Werner, Commanding General, U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command. Following the ceremony, Mission BBQ offers a meal for $20 per person. There will also be a raffle.
For further information, contact Karen Straffon at kcstraffon@comcast.net, or 810-278-0415. Karen and Nick Straffon led the fundraising effort to build and maintain the memorial on land provided by Clinton Township.
The Gold Star Family Memorial Monument program is the vision of 98-year-old Hershel “Woody” Williams, the nation’s only surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Williams, who attended and spoke at last year’s dedication, began a foundation in 2010 to honor Gold Star Families whose family member or members died while in the armed forces. Today, monuments are erected or planned to be in all 50 states.
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