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SKYDEX Technologies Partners with NHL’s Washington Capitals To Benefit Survivors of Fallen Military Heroes Through TAPS

Sale of Popular Courage Caps and Courage T-Shirts Begins Day After Veterans Day As the Capitals Host the New Jersey Devils at Washington’s Verizon Center Spouses, children, parents and other loved ones of fallen American service men and women will be the beneficiaries of the Washington Capitals’ 2011-2012 Courage Caps campaign – with 100 percent of proceeds from the sale of Courage Caps and T-shirts going to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). The Courage Caps campaign, now in its fifth season, has raised nearly $140,000 for military charities. This year’s Courage Caps merchandise officially goes on sale on Saturday, November 12 – the day after Veterans Day – at the Capitals’ home game against the New Jersey Devils. Special in-arena activities will be devoted to honoring America’s military veterans. TAPS is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America's fallen military heroes. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, seminars for adults, good grief camps for children, case work assistance and a 24/7 resource helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. TAPS is a non-profit organization that receives no government funding. This year’s campaign is sponsored by SKYDEX Technologies, the leading innovator in life-saving protective products for the U.S. military. SKYDEX’s innovations range from energy-absorbing convoy decking, which shields personnel aboard armored vehicles from deadly improvised explosive device blasts, to high-speed boat decking, helmet padding, body armor, wall padding, helicopter and vehicle seating and even washable, recyclable barracks matresses. “SKYDEX has been proud to sponsor Caps programs, because the Washington Capitals do so much for our men and women in uniform,” said SKYDEX President and CEO Mike Buchen. “We’re expecially proud to be sponsoring the Courage Caps campaign to benefit TAPS. SKYDEX is all about protecting America’s warriors and saving lives. TAPS is all about helping loved ones whose lives are shattered when a warrior makes the ultimate sacrifice. TAPS is singularly focused on, and effective at, fulfilling its mission. And there is no more honorable or more important work.” "The funds raised through the Courage Caps campaign will have a tremendous impact on the families of America's fallen military heroes," said Bonnie Carroll, founder and chairman of TAPS. "TAPS stands ready to help the loved ones of every service member who dies while serving in the Armed Forces. This means Caps fans, SKYDEX, and the Caps are now touching, in a profound way, the lives of thousands of families who have sacrificed for our nation's freedom. Their loved ones gave courageously to their country with their lives, and now the Courage Caps campaign is giving back to their families." Courage Caps and Courage T-shirts will be sold for $20 online at WashingtonCaps.com, at the Fan Gear store and at stands throughout Washington, DC’s Verizon Center during Capitals home games and at the Team Store at the Caps’ practice facility, the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, VA. There will also be a limited number of autographed Courage Caps and T-shirts available for sale at WashingtonCaps.com and at the Community Relations table located behind section 104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center. For $50, fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by players Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin or Tomas Vokoun; for $35, fans can purchase a Courage Cap or T-shirt signed by any other individual Capitals player. The 2011-2012 Courage Caps campaign kicked off on Monday, when Capitals forwards Mike Knuble and Jeff Halpern – both Americans – hosted 100 TAPS survivors for a skating party and lunch at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. “This is a great event that I’m honored to be part of this year,” Knuble said during Monday’s skate. “I like getting the opportunity to talk to all of the kids and parents that come out.” Added Halpern: “The people in the military and their families do so much for others that it’s nice to have them here and watch them have fun skating.” To learn more about TAPS, visit www.taps.org. To learn more about SKYDEX Technologies, visit www.skydex.com or view the SKYDEX online press kit here. About SKYDEX SKYDEX, a privately held technology company headquartered in Denver, CO, is the industry leader in developing protective materials that mitigate shock, vibration and/or energy forces for the most demanding military and commercial uses. Our technologically advanced innovations include blast-mitigating flooring for combat vehicles, padding for military helmets, vibration-attenuating seating for both ground vehicles and helicopters and shock absorbing decking for high speed interceptor boats. SKYDEX clients are government and commercial entities that value the increased survivability and reduced impact implications that SKYDEX technology provides to their most important assets – the human operator. Inspired by its motto – “Protecting People and Things That Matter^®” – SKYDEX utilizes its patented twin-hemisphere plastics technology to design and manufacture a wide range of products and is a leading supplier to armed forces around the world. For more information, please visit www.skydex.com.