MTSU Athletics and Lightning’s Locker Room are joining forces for “Operation Hat Trick,” a nonprofit movement to provide free headgear to wounded military veterans.

This initiative, which originated at the University of New Hampshire, was created in honor of two fallen Navy SEALs, Nate Hardy and Mike Koch, who were killed in Iraq in February 2008. They are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

“Operation Hat Trick” was inspired by a Boston radio broadcast that challenged listeners to guess what veterans with head injuries want most when they return to the United States. The answer: Something to cover the wounds, burns and scars on their heads.

More than 30 colleges and universities are now participants in the project, and more than 10,000 hats have been distributed to veterans.

Ten percent of all funds raised will go to support the Veterans Administration Medical Center General Post Fund. In addition, Lightning’s Locker Room will donate an MTSU hat to a local V.A. hospital for every three Blue Raider “Operation Hat Trick” hats sold.

The hats available are a royal-blue cloth cap, a faded forest-camouflage design cap and a royal-blue summer cap, all bearing the MT logo and “Operation Hat Trick” design.

Hats are available now at MTSU athletic events, www.mtsutees.com and at MTSU Tees’ off-campus Murfreesboro location at 910 Ridgely Road, Suite B.

For more information, contact John Brockwell at 615-890-6190.

— Gina K. Logue (Gina.Logue@mtsu.edu)