Amazing Weekend at Country Concert!!! Thank you so much to everyone at Dr. Pepper/ 7Up/ Snapple!!!

Mayor Stough presented Becky Minger Miss Ohio 2010 with a replica of the signs placed in the City of Sylvania at Monday’s City Council Meeting.

CV-22 Crash Survivor Joins Miss Ohio at Miss America Pageant

Tuesday, January 25, 2011  
Posted by: Edie Rosenthal

Before April 8, 2010, there was no way Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis could know that an aircraft crash and tragic loss of life would lead to the most unlikely of friendships.

On that date, Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis was a flight engineer on a CV-22 Osprey conducting a mission in Afghanistan when the tilt rotor aircraft, assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, went down.

The crash killed four of the service members on board and left Sergeant Curtis fighting for his life. His initial prognosis was grim: severe blood loss, multiple fractures to the back, face, legs, left arm and pelvis. After being airlifted out of theatre, Curtis was transferred to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

He spent two weeks in the intensive care unit before he remembers waking up with his parents at his bedside. Curtis underwent 14 surgeries to treat his injuries and rebuild battered limbs. Through excruciating pain and sheer determination, he underwent months of rehabilitation to learn the most basic of functions, including how to walk.

This was the setting for a very unusual friendship to develop.

During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Curtis met Miss Ohio, Becky Minger, who was visiting troops. He told her about his initial goal of walking through the doors to the 8th Special Operations Squadron building, which he accomplished on Oct. 8, 2010.

They also talked about the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the families of fallen and wounded special operations personnel. Minger was so inspired by Curtis that she wanted to become involved with the foundation, donating her time and talent to help the families of fallen and wounded warriors.

When she learned that her new friend had accomplished his goal of walking through the doors of his headquarters, she invited Sergeant Curtis to be at her side during the Miss America pageant this month in Las Vegas. Sergeant Curtis’ rehabilitation continues at an advanced military rehabilitation facility at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

Although unable to stand for very long or walk for more than a few steps at time, Sergeant Curtis was able to take a couple of days to join Miss Ohio.

The highlight of the pageant was having Sergeant Curtis walk part of the parade route with Miss Ohio.

Miss Ohio is a friend of the Ohio National Guard. During her reign Becky has made appearances on behalf of The Thank You Foundation and The Special Operations Warrior Foundation. She has visited VA hospitals, Walter Reed Medical Center, the U.S. Naval Ship Comfort, the Pentagon, and other military facilities.