What item is most commonly requested by soldiers with head injuries upon their return to the United States?
This question was posed to the listeners of a Boston radiocast in 2007. University of New Hampshire (UNH) Senior Associate Athletic Director Dot Sheehan had tuned in and discovered the answer – a baseball cap.
Sheehan partnered with a local hat manufacturer and Operation Hat Trick (OHT) was born. The premise – for every two hats sold a third would be donated to OHT for distribution to soldiers. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of a hat goes to OHT to generate awareness, support and funding for the recovery of America’s wounded warriors.
In 2008, Nate Hardy, the son of UNH professor Steve Hardy, was killed in action while helping fellow Navy Seal Mike Koch. The two died side-by-side and are buried next to one another in Arlington National Cemetery. Sheehan made the decision to approach the two families and dedicate OHT to their memory. Every hat includes a tag with the story of Nate and Mike.
OHT started out as a local operation, but went national on January 25, 2012, after Sheehan was encouraged by her colleagues at a convention at Notre Dame University. That also led to signing ’47 Brand as their official manufacturer.
“I thought maybe we’d get 20 schools,” said Sheehan. “Now we’re up to 220 schools.”
Partnerships have been created with Minor League Baseball, American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League teams. Yet, they’re still looking to expand.
“You name it; we’re pursuing it,” said Sheehan. “NASCAR, the NBA, the NHL.”
That also includes expanding a high school initiative from Steve Mello, district director of physical education and sport for the Concord (New Hampshire) School District.
“Steve said he wanted young people to understand the importance of the military,” said Sheehan. “He also said he’d get 60 schools to participate.”
Mello got 64 schools involved. In order to participate, kids either had to buy or sell a hat. The hats feature the high schools’ logos and will be worn during the week of May 12 at baseball and softball games.
“It was a 10,000 hat order,” Sheehan said.
The money raised by the high schools will stay in the state of New Hampshire and be donated to organizations that give direct support to service members and veterans.
Sheehan said she’d love to have all 50 states participating with OHT in some capacity. If other high schools partner with OHT, the money they raise will remain with organizations in their state.
“We’ve combined the love of your school with the love of your country,” Sheehan said. “There’s nothing stronger.”
One of the things Sheehan and other members do as part of OHT is hand deliver hats to service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The first year, according to Sheehan, included lots of tears.
At one of the visits, she encountered a man who had been severely burned who told her that he felt normal after receiving his hat. At another, there were 10 triple amputees ages 19-21 who wanted Alabama OHT hats, but Alabama was not part of the initiative at that time.
“We tweeted it out,” Sheehan said. “The next day Alabama joined.”
Beyond providing hats, OHT has found other opportunities to provide for soldiers in need. Many of their proceeds have gone to help military families. They are also expanding beyond hats to t-shirts and other items.
“The goal is to have an Operation Hat Trick product line,” said Sheehan.
Sheehan said she doesn’t think there is anything that brings her more joy than her work with OHT. She also said that UNH President Mark Huddleston said it’s the most rewarding thing he’s done in his academic career.
“We’ve had an effect,” Sheehan said. “And we’re looking to have other states adopt Operation Hat Trick.”
If a high school is interested in partnering with OHT, it should contact Sheehan at 603-862-4677.