A Soldier’s Story: Ask your local theater to screen this movie
by Rachel
“Never give up. Never quit.” That is Travis Mills’ motto. And if Travis Mills has no excuses, no one else should either!
An injury in Afghanistan may have left him a quadruple amputee, but it didn’t change his goofy personality, his determination to be there for his family, or his motivation to walk and run again and participate in all the activities he used to.
A co-worker here at Easter Seals recommended I see Travis: A Soldier’s Story, and thanks to Easter Seals Dixon Center’s work in serving veterans, I had the privilege of attending a screening. I got to meet Travis at the screening, and I just loved him. He is an all-around good (and hilarious) guy, and that’s not all: he is a Detroit Lions fan, too!
Travis: A Soldier’s Story is a documentary and true story of United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne. Travis lost portions of both arms and both legs as the result of an IED (improvised explosive device) on April 10, 2012, while on patrol during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. Travis is one of just five quadruple-amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive their injuries.
Watch this trailer and you’ll get a hint of what I think this documentary is all about: that family is everything for our soldiers. The goal to come home to his wife, Kelsey, and their daughter, Chloe, motivated Travis to press on during rehabilitation.
The movie takes viewers through some of Travis’ therapy and rehabilitation process. It’s real, it’s tough, and it’s this hard work and perseverance that makes our soldiers heroes.
Some may refer to Travis as a wounded soldier, but he doesn’t consider himself wounded. He is a role model through the foundations he works with and his love for giving back. Help spread his story by encouraging your local theaters to screen the movie this Veterans Day.
And as for soldiers who don’t have a strong support system waiting for them at home — if you or someone you know is a military service member, veteran or military family, Easter Seals Dixon Center may be a good resource for help with anything from financial planning for military families and job training for veterans to respite services for military caregivers and more.