LEWISTON — The Travis Mills Foundation will team up with the Gendron Franco Center on 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, and to raise awareness for veterans’ organizations in Maine.  Performers will include the center’s executive director, Mitch Thomas and other local artists.

 Retired United States Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees. On April 10, 2012, Mills was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. He 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 the healthcare providers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he remains on the road to recovery.

 In September 2013, 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.

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” will be shown 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 Post 31 will present the flags of the United States and the five branches of the U.S. military. A special tribute to the 81 Maine service men and women killed in combat since Sept. 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.

Reserved tickets for the fundraising concert and reception are $20 and $15 for veterans and members of their immediate families. They can be purchased in advance online at FrancoCenter.org. or by visiting or calling the Box Office at 46 Cedar St. or 783-1585.  Hours are Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 p.m.

 The Gendron Franco Center is handicap accessible and is located on the corner of Cedar and Oxford Streets in the “Little Canada” section of Lewiston, just across the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge from New Auburn.

Retired United States Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. Mills is seen here with an unidentified woman at one of his motivational events.