BATH

Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen Association, United Auto Workers Local 3999, recently raised $9,000 as a donation for the Travis Mills Foundation.

Staff Sgt. Travis Mills is one of only five quadruple amputees from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive such extensive injuries. Mills and his foundation are working to build a fully accessible Smart Home facility.

The property in Rome will be a home to serve and support disabled veterans. The cost is estimated to total $2.7 million dollars. During their stay at the Travis Mills Smart Home, veterans will have the opportunity to share stories with other wounded Vets, relax, recover and enjoy a wide range of adaptive sports that will accommodate the individual disabilities.

Over the course of five months, members of the BMDA’s Veterans’ Committee held a series of fundraisers to support the project. These events included pizza parties, a barbeque, used book sales, bake sales, a company-wide gate collection. These funds along with other donations totaled $9,000.

“I happened to see Travis Mills on TV and he is remarkable,” said Donna Matthews of Bath, member of BMDA’s Veterans Committee. “He just wanted to help others. It’s just incredible. I got the word out in the building and said this is what we are doing, and it took off like wild fire. I was surprised and I was proud of everyone. It brings everyone together. Maine people are always willing to give. This was the right time and the right program, people were excited to participate.”

Ted Gates of Brunswick is also active with the union’s Veterans Committee.

“It’s for veterans, and that’s what our Committee is supposed to be doing, helping our veterans and veterans in the community. This project seemed like the right thing to do and the right time to do it. Travis is a Maine boy, and it’s a local Maine project so that was a big plus,” Gates said.

Gates added: “We had a fantastic the response from the union membership. People bent over backwards to help out and contribute. We got a great response — I can’t say enough about that. Our members did yeoman’s duty to contribute and give of their time, and they made it a huge success,”

Mills made an appearance at Bath Iron Works to thank union members for their contributions.