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LEWISTON — Turner Publishing has two VIP and show tickets, plus four tickets for show only to give away FREE. Contact us today if you want them. 207-225-2076. The Travis Mills Foundation will team up with the Gendron Franco Center Saturday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. for a special tribute concert and reception to honor Maine’s veterans and learn more about the groups who support and help returning and active Veterans and their families. The event is designed to motivate, educate, inspire and entertain, while raising awareness for veterans’ organizations in Maine. Performers will include the center’s executive director, Mitch Thomas, Laurie Sidelinger, Melissa Stevens, and other local artists.
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., several Maine veterans support organizations, including Honor Flight Maine, will be available to answer questions and offer information in Heritage Hall at the center. The award-winning documentary, “Travis: A Soldier’s Story,” featuring retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, of the 82nd Airborne, has now played in more than 30 cities nationwide. The public is invited to a special free viewing of the film at 5:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall.
A social hour in Heritage Hall will follow the film and precede the 7:30 concert. The Franco-American War Veterans Color Guard of American Legion Post 31 will present the flags of the United States as well as the five branches of the U.S. military. A special tribute to the 81 Maine service men and women killed in combat since September 11, 2001, will be the highlight of the event. Brandy M. Cain from the Travis Mills Foundation will be the keynote speaker. After the concert, a reception with light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar will be offered back in Heritage Hall.
Now living in Manchester, Mills is a re-calibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees. On April 10, 2012, he was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device) while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. Mills is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. Thanks to his amazing strength, courage, an incredible will to live, the heroic actions of the men in his unit, the prayers of thousands, and all the health care providers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he remains on the road to recovery.
In September 2013, Staff Sergeant Mills founded the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to benefit and assist combat-injured veterans. The foundation is creating a fully-accessible retreat for combat-injured veterans and their families. The retreat will be a uniquely-designed, fully-accessible comfortable lodge for relaxation, adaptive sports and family recreation. Proceeds from the Franco Center event will benefit the organization’s mission.
Reserved tickets for the fundraising concert and reception are $20; $15 for veterans and members of their immediate families.They can be purchased in advance online at FrancoCenter.org. or by visiting the box office, 46 Cedar St., or calling 207-783-1585. Hours are Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 p.m.
The Gendron Franco Center is handicapped accessible and is located at Cedar and Oxford streets in the “Little Canada” section, just across the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge from New Auburn.
