LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 15, 2005


PATRIOT PERFORMANCE MATERIALS DONATES
ARMOR, GEAR TO U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY

SANFORD -- Patriot Performance Materials, a Sanford-based manufacturer of 
armor and military equipment, has donated $116,000 worth of body armor and 
tactical gear to the U.S. Military Academy.

The formal presentation was held Dec. 3 during halftime of the 106th Army-Navy 
football game in Philadelphia. Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, superintendent of 
the U.S. Military Academy, accepted the contribution.

Patriot donated 35 sets of its lightweight Direct Action Vests with Small Arms 
Protective Inserts, used to protect soldiers from small arms fire, along with 
a variety of tactical pouches to transport equipment.

The contribution was arranged through the Association of Graduates, a 
nonprofit alumni association helping the Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., 
remain a world-class university and training ground for Army leaders.

William Henderson, president of Patriot, said his company found out about the 
need during a chance meeting and was honored to contribute the gear, which 
will be used by the academy's Combat Weapons Team.

"In October, we found out that the Combat Weapons Team needed the kind of body 
armor and tactical gear that we manufacture," said Henderson. "Our gear is 
already used by many units within the Department of Defense and other 
governmental agencies.

"So, when we realized that the team provided extracurricular training to 
future leaders of the U.S. Army, we wanted to help and set about making the 
donation."

Patriot Performance Materials was founded three years ago by former members of 
the military's special operations forces to make quality body armor, vehicle 
armor and tactical gear for their former units.

The company maintains its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Sanford 
and operates a vehicle-armoring facility in Kuwait to serve U.S. Army units 
serving in Iraq.

                                 -- 30 --

Note to Editors: A photo of the presentation (840K JPEG) is available for 
publication at:

http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/releasephotos/PatriotUsmaDonation.jpg

  William Henderson (holding the certificate at right) formally donates gear 
to Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr., superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy 
(holding certificate at left). They are joined by representatives of the 
academy's Combat Weapons Team (wearing gear next to Henderson and Lennox) and 
members of the Association of Graduates.


Media Contacts:
Bob Heuts, Director
Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant
919-774-8439 (phone)
919-775-5410 (fax)
info@lcedc.com (e-mail)


ON THE WEB

Patriot Performance Materials
 http://patriotmaterials.com

United States Military Academy
 http://www.usma.edu

Association of Graduates, USMA
 http://www.aogusma.org

Lee Economic Development Media Web
 http://www.lcedc.com/media/

This Release
 http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr121505.txt