House in the Woods Fifth Anniversary

The Lodge at House in the Woods Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary

by Angie Gade, Development & Social Media Coordinator at House in the Woods

Fifteen years ago, Paul and Dee House of remember the fallen heroes and Veterans from Lee, Maine, were planning to visit their family every era and service branch, as well those who camp and watch the sunset in celebration still serve and the volunteers and sponsors of Dee's birthday. Then a van pulled into who help carry out the mission of Giving Back. their driveway. Paul watched through their Such an endeavor surely would not be possible computer-room window as two men in without a huge outpouring of support from the military uniform stepped out from the van. community and country.

Paul would later describe how, as The land, passed down through the family, is unexplainable heat and numbness filled his host to a lodge only God could have imagined, entire body, he said, "Oh no! We’ve lost Joel." not a modest woodsman and his wife. God Though he had spoken out loud, he was in not only made it possible, he wraps his arms shock. around it and blesses it. You often hear, “I can

The couple’s son, Army Sgt. Joel A. House, feel God’s love here.” We also believe that the was killed on June 23, 2007, by a roadside love our volunteers and attendees bring with bomb while serving in 2nd Battalion, 8th them into the lodge is a source of the positive Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, energy that grows by the day. 1st Cavalry of the Army, in Taji Iraq.

Paul shook both men's hands as they left. "God doesn't make mistakes," he said. Though broken hearted, he knew there must be a reason for this terrible loss.

Our lives can change in a blink of an eye. Often, we can't control the circumstances, but we do decide how to react. Paul and Dee, both of strong faith, knew instantly that their son Joel was with the Lord. Though grief stricken, that was the one thing they were sure of.

Shortly after his funeral, Paul and Dee embarked on a mission that would honor their son. They would do it by taking care of as many of the men and women serving this great nation as they could, and they included the families of those who, like Paul, had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Paul House shared this: "The mission was laid on my heart by God. Since then, we’ve hosted over 1800 attendees on outdoor retreats, and countless more at community events.”

This weekend represented the fifth anniversary of the lodge built to honor and A chilly early evening sky hovers over Maine's House in the Woods. But inside, the warmth of love and wonderfull music fill the air!

Lee, Maine, home to 922 people, hosted 1,000 visitors for this celebration. Many individuals, organizations and businesses joined in to help celebrate this momentous occasion.

Kevin Adair and Lee Stuckey of AHERO came all the way from Alabama to show their love and support of the House family and mission. AHERO connects Veterans through outdoor activities to help them recover from their physical wounds and psychological trauma and be able to reintegrate into civilian life. House in the Woods walks together with AHERO, both organizations supporting our military heroes in need.

Kevin gave the visitors a magnificent performance and, through his music, shared his appreciation for those who serve and sacrifice. He is a true humanitarian, always giving the best of himself for the benefit of others. House in the Woods presented him with a recognition award for his patriotism and a donation supporting his recording project.

Once produced, Kevin’s record will highlight Veteran-supporting organizations such as AHERO and House in the Woods. He has seen plenty of his own struggles but doesn't let that get in the way of his work supporting military heroes.

Radio and news outlets were on hand highlighting the incredible number of people who came out to support our military families and show gratitude of the HITW mission. Artist Kevin Champeny of New York attended with his family and was so moved by the mission and support of our heroes that he donated a unique piece of his art valued at over $22,000. This masterpiece will be hung at the lodge for all to see for years to come.

The Champeny’s were just one of the families that stayed the weekend at the lodge. The outpouring of love that all of them have shown the House family and Veterans is a testament to God's way of connecting people to help others.

The Summit Project arranged a hike for Sunday morning honoring Maine Fallen Heroes. Rocks engraved with the initials of individual heroes are carried by volunteers, each having learned about the person they are honoring and telling their story at a ceremony mid-hike. In this way, these loved ones are never forgotten. In addition, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Woody Williams Memorial, which will stand overlooking the lodge upon its completion in 2023.

House in the Woods isn’t simply a place for Veterans to go hiking, hunting, and fishing, it’s a place of connection, peace, and hope for anyone who loves this great country and wants to honor those who have fought for our freedom.

Its 28 beds, full commercial kitchen, ADA accessibility, basement archery range, UTVs, and pontoon boat are just a few reasons House in the Woods is such an incredible, comfortable place to be. Here everyone can relax, be themselves and find peace, forgetting about their struggles for a time as they connect with other heroes like themselves.

Whether at the lodge or off-site, healing happens naturally among the attendees. Without saying much at all they understand the symptoms and struggles they’ve endured. Many share that “this changed my life.” Some even say, “House in the Woods saved my life!”

Thanks be to God for the life of Sgt. Joel A. House, a simple young man with a passion for his family, faith, humanity, and his country.

Another great time at House in the Woods! (l-r) Here, singer/songwriter Kevin Adair and AHERO Founder Lee Stuckey show the gratitude we all feel toward Paul and Dee House for their constant, loving support of our Veterans.