SPOTLIGHT
Freedom Station I, a 12-unit property in Golden Hill, and Freedom Station II, a nine-unit property in South Park, are designed to shift injured warriors to independent living while still providing that all-important camaraderie. Active duty service members and veterans recover among peers, enroll in college or trade schools, establish new careers, gain financial independence, and discover new pursuits.
There is an ethos in the military known as No Man Left Behind. It represents a bond, a brotherhood, and the determination to bring your comrades home, no matter what. When our nation’s troops become ill or injured, a new battle begins. At this life-changing juncture, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station lives out this ethos in service to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Sergeant Povas Miknaitis, U.S. Marine Corps (ret.) was one of Freedom Station I’s first residents. During a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan, his team was running a reconnaissance mission when an IED exploded beneath the floor of the house they entered. Although severely injured himself, Povas treated his teammates first to keep them alive and maintained perimeter security until the QRF arrived. He eventually ended up at NMCSD for treatment and recovery.
Warrior Foundation Freedom Station was founded in 2004, as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom were underway. War raged in Iraq and Afghanistan, sending battle-injured soldiers, sailors and Marines back to Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) in devastating numbers. Sandy Lehmkuhler, a Navy wife volunteering at the hospital, witnessed the hardships endured by these warriors and their families. She founded this nonprofit with the mission of assisting, honoring and supporting the military men and women who bravely served and sacrificed for our country.
“When I was medically retiring from the Marine Corps, it was suggested that I move into Freedom Station as a transitionary process,” said Povas. “This model works – it helped me transition in a positive way, with a caring and compassionate support system. I’ve often thought about where I might be if I hadn’t come to Freedom Station. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been that person on the street corner asking for money, because I’ve been in some pretty dark places. Being at Freedom Station helped me with the different battles I’ve faced in my life.”
Now in its 17th year, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station is one of the most respected foundations in the region and serves four groups of warriors: the seriously ill and injured; those suffering from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury; those undergoing physical or occupational therapy; and transitioning warriors who have medically retired and remain in our community.
Povas since graduated from the University of San Diego and is now a proud homeowner. He has a flourishing banking career and was named San Diego County Veteran of the Year for 2019-2020.
One of the foundation’s most innovative programs is Freedom Station – transitional housing residences that provide injured warriors with the acclimation time, guidance and resources to successfully transition from military service to civilian life.
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WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / July 2021
Petty Officer First Class Junior Rodriguez, U.S. Navy (ret.) currently lives at Freedom Station II. As a Corpsman, he provided lifesaving medical care to Marines during 13 combat deployments. Yet Junior would end up sustaining serious injuries of his own in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was introduced to Warrior Foundation Freedom Station while recovering at NMCSD. Junior says, “Every Christmas, the foundation decorated the barracks, left goody bags by our beds, and provided us with flights home for the holidays.
