Military service members suffering mental and emotional stress from combat soon will have a haven structured specifically for their needs.
Spearheaded by the nonprofit Mission First, The Sanctuary on the Hill will be situated on 90 acres in western Warrick County near Interstate 69. Plans feature hiking and horseback riding trails, a four-acre lake, a 6,000-square-foot activities center and a 10,000-square- foot lodge for overnight stays. A groundbreaking was held March 22, and it is slated to fully open in early 2027, although some features should be ready by the end of this year, says Danny Barr, a Marine Corps vet and Sanctuary board president.
Veterans will receive help reassimilating into everyday society as well as group therapy sessions led by “veterans who have been there and walked the path successfully,” Barr says.
A $6.7 million grant from the Lilly Foundation through the local Community Foundation Alliance, along with sponsorships from CenterPoint and the Jim and Carol Havens Family Foundation, as well as several private donations, have funded the project so far.
