Minnesota Combat Wounded Veteran to receive the 'American Patriot' Award.

Oct. 14, 2009 - PRLog -- The American Patriot Program, or TAPP, has selected Freeport, Minnesota resident and combat wounded veteran SSG Mike Mills to receive a prestigious national level award.  The national team of organizations from around America honors members of the US armed forces that have been wounded in combat operations defending the United States of America.

"SSG Mike Mills went through an experience that most cannot even fathom for our freedom and you better believe we are a united national team to honor this man" said TAPP's nomination chief advisor and President of America Supports You Texas Jack Barnes, of Amarillo, Texas.

Mike Mills was severely injured in 2005 in Iraq when an improvised explosive device (IED) cracked his clavicle, broke multiple foot and scapula bones.  The explosion also covered the Staff Sergeant in flames in the explosion burning over 30% of his body.

The Saint Paul Saints have produced the American Patriot authentic commemorative game jersey for SSG Mike Mills for the upcoming honor event while MaxBat, Inc. has been selected to craft the American Patriot commemorative baseball bat.

Jason Speidel with TAPP teams' Maxbat, Inc., of Brooten, Minnesota commented [that] "Mike Mills is the kind of man you want to do more for and we are all profoundly honored to have been chosen to produce this award for an American hero from Minnesota."

Minnesota Twins television broadcaster Bert Blyleven, a supporter of the TAPP program, said of the news, "Minnesota's own Mike Mills is very deserving of this award- my wife Gail and I cannot thank this man enough for what he has given our Country."  

TAPP founder and national director Wes Hazlett is working with the City of Freeport, Minnesota and an official Veterans Service officer close to the Mills family to formalize a TAPP Honor Event that allows for a public show of solidarity and for a public presentation of the American Patriot award.

Of TAPP's selection of Mike Mills, Hazlett emphasized, of the Mike Mills nomination from a St. Cloud, Minnesota resident, "reading about the passion alone in the man that nominated Mike Mills alone, we knew that we were dealing with a true story of American heroism."

SSG Mike Mills is now a celebrated 'American Patriot' and has earned the deep respect and admiration of all the organizations that make up the all volunteer national team of the American Patriot Program.  Mills becomes only the eighth American Patriot selection and the first ever Minnesota selection.

The Office of the Governor of the State of Minnesota has joined in to recognize the national level award with official letter of recognition while Missouri's Silver Star Families of America Founder Steve Newton, in solidarity, has invited Mills to attend a Veterans Day ceremonial award presentation of the Silver Star Banner award.  Silver Star Families of America serves as one of TAPP's official nomination national relay points.

An official TAPP dispatch of information will be released by the American Patriot Program that announces the specifics of the Mike Mills American Patriot Honor Event tentatively set within late October and the first week of November.

Related press links
http://www.fortheveteran.com/page05.html
http://www.saukherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=12&SubSectio...
http://www.silverstarfamilies.org
http://www.americanpatriotprogram.kk5.org/#/tapp-honor-event-media-release/4535735065

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The American Patriot Program is comprised of a group of nine volunteer organizations joined through America's Favorite National Pastime that have all united to honor combat wounded American Veterans.