The Freedom 13 broke ground on Oct. 8 on three new houses at its very first of 50 healing camps.

The nonprofit organization was founded by Mark and Jaclyn Schmitz after their son, Marine L. Cpl. Jared Schmitz, was killed in the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. Their mission is to build a healing camp in each state for veterans, law enforcement and Gold Star families to use.

Greg Doolin, of The Freedom 13, opened the groundbreaking ceremony with a prayer.

“Heavenly Father, your word reminds us in Psalms 127 that unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Today, as we turn this earth, we dedicate this ground to you and to the mission of The Freedom 13,” Doolin said. “Your scripture says in John 15:13, Father, that greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Doolin then called VFW National Chaplain Debb Halter up to speak.

She elaborated on the organization’s mission, highlighting that one veteran or first responder will reside full-time at the camp.

“That is not a perk. That is the point,” Halter said.

The camp was envisioned to help guests heal in mind, body and spirit.

State Sen. Nick Schroer also spoke about The Freedom 13 and its impact.

“One thing that Mark and Jaclyn told me is that they wanted to make sure that we don’t forget about Jared. I think they’ve done a darn good job of making sure we’re never going to forget in the state of Missouri, in the United States and worldwide, just how strong this young man was,” Schroer said. “And I know Mark’s grandma just said every event that we have at The Freedom 13, she always sees a little butterfly, so I want you all to kind of remember things like that.”

Doolin recognized all present veterans and had them stand beside Jared’s family as they ceremonially broke ground. The ceremonial shovel was one they used to break ground at what was formerly known as Friendship Brewery in Wentzville where a statue and a bench in honor of Jared stands.

Dace Construction, LLC. is doing the work on the first three houses, and they unveiled a new wheelchair that they purchased with funds from an Impact 100 grant that they received on Sept. 24. It is called The Tank because it is a wheelchair on tracks, so it can go anywhere on the property, and it comes with multiple attachments, including an attachment for shooting at the shooting range that will be built and an attachment to help hold a fishing rod.

While the facility will not be completed, The Freedom 13 plans to start hosting guests at the camp sometime in 2027.