A spokesman from The American Patriot Program, or TAPP, desiring to keep much of the new program concept under wraps has announced that it's prestigious national level military award will be expanding to the ice rinks of America for the common goal of honoring combat wounded American Veterans.
TAPP was started in July of 2009 by a small group of sports minded businesses that are all deeply grateful to the United States Armed Forces for the protection and defense of America. the volunteer group donates it's own time, resources, and finances to implement the program mission- honoring veterans that have been wounded in combat operations.
From July to November of 2009 a total of 20 American Patriot Awards were presented and 150 American Patriot T-Ration shirts were given to family members and friends of award recipients throughout America. The award consists of a laser engraved TAPP themed 'Honored American Patriot' laser engraved baseball bat or a customized American Patriot baseball jersey as provided by the Saint Paul Saints American Association baseball team.
The national-level award is matched with; autographed items and letter's of solidarity from numerous major league baseball teams, the Major League Baseball Players Association, State-level recognition from the Governor's Office of the respective state where an American Patriot Award is selected, and the presentation of the 'T Ration' shirt which recognizes any combat wounded veteran nominated through the program as a 'Nominated American Patriot'.
In November 2010 TAPP is planning to introduce the stunning new 'Goalie Stick American Patriot Award'. It is designed to be a full-size goalie style hockey stick dressed in full TAPP script, colors, emblems, and the uniform TAPP axiom laser engraved, "In the Utmost of Gratitude for Your Sacrifice” A special place for US Olympic, professional, and former American stars will be provided for autographs.
"We owe it to those who are enduring great hardships for our Country and the uniqueness of an American Patriot Award Goalie Stick is just plain exciting" said newly named TAPP Chief Military Hockey Liaison John P. Chestna (shown in photo). Chestna was selected as TAPP's 'Desert Storm War Era' American Patriot Award recipient in November of 2009 at it's national honor event held at Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers minor league baseball team in Columbus, Ohio.
TAPP's founder Wes Hazlett, who played hockey as a teenager in Willmar, Minnesota for a local Junior Gold team and is a strong support of USA hockey said "[our] motivation to connect the great sport of hockey with honoring combat wounded veterans spread like a wildfire watching the Olympics and seeing how the US Hockey Team had honored American wounded soldiers."
That lit the lamp for TAPP and made big impression on the TAPP team. TAPP's Chief Nomination Adviser Jack Barnes, also the President of America Supports You Texas (Amarillo, TX) believes that expanding this new TAPP award program to hockey can introduce our American hockey players to a national level military award that has some guts to it.
Hazlett commented that the TAPP team thought a “goalie style design set a strong tone-- as goalie's defend their own net from opponents that want to defeat their team, soldiers of our nation’s Armed Forces defend us from those who want to defeat America.”
The TAPP team has also announced that summer TAPP baseball bat and jersey award events will be released by April 1. Phoenix Bat Company (Ohio), MaxBat, Inc. (Minnesota), and Hoosier Bat Company (Indiana) have all made commitments for the programs 'power-up' date on 4.1 when the 2010 nomination process begins.
To learn how you can support combat wounded veterans through the American Patriot Program or for more information please email The American Patriot program at thepatriotprogram@
Related Sources/Links
http://www.deseretnews.com/
http://www.americanpatriotprogram.org
