NASHVILLE, TN. (www.specialops.org) - Country music star
Travis Tritt will join the Special Operations
Warrior Foundation April 24 in honoring the men who bravely volunteered to rescue American hostages being held in Iran 25 years ago. The secret rescue mission, nicknamed Eagle Claw, attempted to rescue the 53 Americans being held hostage in a heavily guarded embassy compound by Iranian militants.
But a tragic aircraft collision between an MH-53 helicopter and an Air Force C-130 resulted in eight service members being killed and several others injured in the Iranian desert. The service members left behind 17 children. The tragic accident had a profound impact on the special operations community and also resulted in the Special Operations Warrior Foundation being founded.
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Tampa, provides college education grants to the children of special operations personnel killed in an operational mission or a training accident.
Today the Warrior Foundation has 540 children in its program and 92 students enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. Travis Tritt, who has been called 'one of country music's most soulful and versatile vocalists' by Billboard, will be performing several songs during the commemorative dinner. Tritt, who has performed for the USO, is a big supporter of the military.
'Our troops are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedom and spending time with them is a privilege,' said Tritt in a Washington Times article about the Spirit of America Tour in 2003.
Joining Tritt will be rising country artist, Keni Thomas. Thomas, a former Army Ranger who fought in the now-famous battle depicted in the book and movie, 'Black Hawk Down,' has a new country CD, 'Flags of Our Fathers' which is benefiting the Warrior Foundation and its scholarship program.
'The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is honored to have the support and generosity of both Travis Tritt and Keni Thomas,' said SOWF President/CEO John T. Carney, Jr. 'Not only does their participation in this event help raise funds to provide the opportunity for a college education for some very deserving children, but it also serves as a reminder to our deployed troops that they, and their families, are not forgotten.'
The Eagle Claw 25th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner is open to the public and will be attended by the many participants in the complex hostage rescue attempt as well as the family members of those who were killed in the tragic aircraft accident.
In addition to recognizing the courage and bravery of the men who participated in the hostage rescue mission, the Warrior Foundation will be presenting Ross Perot with the 'Spirit of the Warrior Award' for his continued support of special operations personnel.
The dinner is being held at the Emerald Coast Conference Center, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. April 24, 2005. Dinner starts at 7:00 pm. General admission tickets, $75 per person, are available online at https://www.acteva.com//booking.cfm?bevaID=80271
For additional information about the Warrior Foundation visit www.specialops.org or call Edie Rosenthal at (813) 805-9400.
