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THANK YOU neighbors… Thanks to each and every one of the members of this amazing community of giving individuals. Whether or not we were selected, having an opportunity to meet so many great people, and share the mission of House in the Woods, is an amazing enough opportunity for us and for the community. Veterans, Gold Star families and active duty men and women will benefit beyond measure from this donation. We look forward to seeing you again in June when we share our plans for your generous donations. For those who are not familiar with this group… please check out 100 Neighbors Who Care of Penobscot County. These folks are truly saving lives right along side of House in the Woods and so many other deserving organizations helping those in our community. Special thank you to Frank Roy for the nomination

STAY TUNED!! Turbo spends a lot of time giving love to veterans, visitors, volunteers, and tracking folk over the course of the year. And because of that you'll often hear people say: "TURBO IS MY BEST FRIEND" In 2022 we'll roll out a line of products with, you guessed it, TURBO, front and center and a way that you can have a little bit of Turbo's love with you each and every day. Because lets face it, we just want more and more of that sweet little face. Don't let him fool you, there's a rugged animal tracking beast in there! If you'd like to be notified when this new line of products is available, type YES in the comments below and we'll keep you in the know! #turbothetrackingdog #allyouneedisloveandatrackingdog #houseinthewoodsmilitaryretr

2021 END OF YEAR LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAUL HOUSE If you’re anything like us, the new year is a wonderful time to reflect on the successes of the past year and look forward to what’s to come. You have contributed so much to our success this past year and we want to share encouraging news from the work you’ve made possible leading up to, and in 2021! The most exciting news is the number of lives you’ve changed thanks to sharing your time and talents. To date, House in the Woods retreats has hosted over 1700 veterans, and looking forward to that number growing in 2022 to over 1800 veterans, active-duty military & gold-star family members. This number is just an estimate as it doesn’t account for the monthly coffee with veterans and also community-based events which are open to the general public. It’s difficult to gauge the number of veterans’ lives that are impacted by the mission. The impact could mean something as simple as you are reading this paper today, then finding a way to go out and help veterans in a meaningful way tomorrow. That’s IMPACT, that’s CONNECTION, and we certainly desire our impact to be growing in an immeasurable way. 2022 brings with it not only 4 brand new retreats to our program, but the addition of several summer veteran “meet up” opportunities, making way to greater opportunities for veterans to gather together and once again feel that camaraderie they need so deeply and deserve. Paul House, Executive Director of House in the Woods had this to say about the state of the mission and adding retreats, “As we grow we’re going to be able to reach more veterans, not only in the US but in the world. It’s helping not just to inspire veterans and volunteers, but other organizations. Adding retreats brings on more responsibility, but it’s going to get more people involved locally and across the country. For myself, it makes me more aware of the good work being done, and to work even harder to do the right thing. It’s very inspirational for me, and I’m sure for others, to see how it changes lives. We’re also focused on promoting others that are helping veterans, and connecting them with the resources available.” If you know Paul there are usually snacks involved so it’s only fitting that there be a food reference, “ Helping others is like eating popcorn, you start with just one bite. Once you realize how good it is you just want more and more, and that’s what’s happening here.” Paul goes on to say, “The mission is reaching people far beyond my expectations. God and faith have been at the forefront, and he always has been. When you see miracles and good things happening you know that it’s God, because it’s certainly something I can’t do. God changes people’s hearts minds, souls, and life in general. We never miss an opportunity to talk about our faith and about how God is behind the House in the Woods mission. He’s our inspiration and he’s the one that makes things happen. Put others first before yourself, it’s a biblical principle. For us, that’s a big thing in our lives, and our family’s life and we want that for others.” Throughout 2021, you have helped host 70 veterans on scheduled outdoor retreats, while helping countless more through the monthly Coffee with Veterans programs rolled out this year, and other community events hosted at the House in the Woods lodge. We’ve always known that the power of connection was strong, but this monthly gathering has proven it once again. Paul had this to say about the addition of Coffee with Veterans, “I think it’s a great way to bring veterans together. They feel relaxed, surrounded by like-minded people, and it’s become something steadfast, they can look forward to monthly. This is a simple way they can get involved with House in the Woods, sending a message they have a place to come and feel safe. It might even challenge and inspire people around us to do more for veterans. Such a simple thing to have coffee has made a difference in the lives of the veterans and volunteers attending. It’s a great way to share time with folks who may not have many others in their lives to spend time with.” We were excited to add our house blend of coffee to our fundraising efforts in 2021. TURBO BOOST is so fitting. Turbo, our tracking dog, is right on the label. Turbo has long been known as our mascot and therapy dog for veterans, and he has become a critical component of our team. TURBO BOOST is available in stores, the lodge, and we’re working to spread it all over the country. It’s a great way to spread the word about the mission, while also encouraging people to share this time with veterans in their own homes and businesses.” Paul is appreciative of the great support received, “The support that we’ve had in the past has enabled us to do what we’re doing now, building a great foundation to build on. With more supporters and donors coming forward we’re able to do more and reach more veterans, active-duty, and gold-star families. The gratitude we feel to our supporters is an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness. Your belief in our mission not only makes it possible to move forward another day, but it inspires us and reinforces that what we’re doing is right and we’re saving lives. Supporting House in the Woods doesn’t just change the veterans, and our team, it also changes the supporters themselves. We’ve implemented a process by which we connect our retreat sponsors directly with the veterans they are sponsoring, giving them deeper insight and into not only how and why we’re doing what we’re doing but what our veterans go through, what it means to have the support from their community, and the impact the retreats have on them. When supporters see, hear and feel the impact, it gives them a firsthand look at how they are SAVING LIVES.” In this celebratory time of the New Year, we look back upon 2021 with gratitude for you and the difference you’ve made in the lives of our American Heroes. We’re excited to see how we, with you by our side, can change lives for the better in 2022! Serving together, Paul House Executive Director House in the Woods Military & Family Retreat TOGETHER WE HEAL

It's a Christmas Miracle! An anonymous donor has come forward, donating $1.4 million, the balance due on the House in the Woods Military & Family Retreat lodge located in Lee, Maine. LEE, Maine, Dec. 28, 2021 -- This generous donation brings House in the Woods one step closer to ensuring that this critical resource is here for our American Heroes for generations to come, offering veterans, active duty, and gold star families a Home Away from Home for healing and camaraderie! House in the Woods Mission is to create a therapeutic, recreational, and educational retreat for our nation's U.S. armed forces and their families, using outdoor wilderness activities to help participants share common challenges related to their service and sacrifice in protecting our nation's freedom and democratic ideals. “Thank you not only to our Christmas donor, but to veterans, supporters, and volunteers, for your dedication to the House in the Woods mission. The healing happening at House in the Woods simply would not be possible without you!” says Paul House, Executive Director. Though this donation comes in year 11 of this organization holding its 501(c)3 status, this is just another beginning. Going into 2022 without a debt payment on the lodge means focusing solely on growing retreats and opportunities, serving more veterans. Now all fundraising efforts can be directed to sponsoring new veterans, providing an experience for them at a House in the Woods retreat. The most important part about the outdoor retreats is the healing that happens when veterans are surrounded by those who love them and appreciate them the most. Paul had this to say about 2021, “Looking back on 2021, what would you see?” Paul continues, “We see veterans gathering, sharing in experiences that save lives, a country coming together to support American Heroes, feeding not only their bodies but their minds and souls. We see volunteers giving of themselves in a way that can’t be put into words. You’ll see a family who suffered unimaginable loss, trusting God, working hard, and walking hand in hand with the men, women, and families that have served and sacrificed so much for our country. So, how was 2021? It was life-changing and Life-SAVING.” Watch Executive Director Paul House speaking to this miracle! https://youtu.be/toDfX_RZF3M

EVERYONE reading this - SAVE THE DATE! YOU'RE INVITED PLEASE SHARE July 9th, 2022 will mark the 5 Year Anniversary completion of the House in the Woods lodge located in Lee, Maine. The words "Thank you" simply aren't enough to express the gratitude the House in the Woods team, and the men and women we serve, has for each and every individual who has been a part of the mission itself, and making the lodge a reality. One might think it's just a building, but to those who know it and have visited, it's much more than that. It's a Home Away From Home for so many, a foundation on which many have found peace, love, strength, and more importantly HOPE. In honor of our 5th lodge Anniversary, we're preparing a Celebration in honor of YOU. Each one of you has been here alongside us on this mission. This mission of SAVING LIVES. SAVE THE DATE - we have amazing things planned for you, you will NOT want to miss it! If you haven't visited yet, we'll leave you with a statement we hear often... many say, "I FEEL GOD'S LOVE HERE." Feel it for yourself, be sure to join us for this special opportunity in which we give thanks to so many. #houseinthewoodsmilitaryfamilyretreat #hitw5yearanniversary

We know... you want to lavish your friends and family with thoughtful gifts this time of year. We love them, they deserve it. And saving money is important. Today, we're making a shift... no more "Black" Friday around here, it's "Red White & Blue" Friday from here on out. Why? Because it's not just about the presents and positive cash flow for retail stores. Red, White & Blue Friday is about GIVING BACK. You work hard for your money. Think wisely about where you're going to spend it and try not to be lured into the stores by "savings", only to find yourself thinking "what have I just done?" You have lots of options for spending your hard-earned dollars this time of year. If you're running out of good quality ideas, think of your men and women wearing the uniform. If you choose to make a donation to House in the Woods, you can rest assured there's no sticker shock, purchase regret, or need for returns. Sponsor a veteran in someone's honor this year and receive a certificate to give, as well as updates throughout the year for you and your recipient, with personal updates on YOUR veteran. GIVE BACK this holiday season. Show your loved ones what making a difference looks like, and help SAVE LIVES. PLEASE SHARE! Start giving back today... head to our website, or follow the link in the comments below. Every dollar makes a difference. #redwhiteandbluefriday #togetherweheal #houseinthewoodsmilitaryfamilyretreat

in LOVING MEMORY of... Our loved ones leave a legacy behind, and through sharing their interests and passions, we honor them and share a little of them with the world even after they are no longer physically with us. ​By making a donation to House in the Woods in honor of, or in memory of... you're showing your loved one in some way, believes in honoring our military men and women, and GIVING BACK. When you see their name or photo on our IN MEMORY PAGE, please let it be a reminder that your loved one continues on not only in your heart and mind, but in those of anyone who visits here. ​ We honor and remember your loved ones. We will place your loved one on our website for any donation amount. We would like to share that any donation of $1,000 or more will help sponsor a veteran on a retreat. If a donation in that amount or more is made, we will name you and your loved one as the sponsors of that particular veteran and share with you, updates about your veteran and their experience on retreat. Questions? Contact Angie Gade 920-517-6749 angie.gade@houseinthewoods.org

LISTEN IN on Better Place Project with Steve Norris podcast episode this morning... It started out with a simple question: How can we help make our world a better place? In the midst of a global pandemic, feeling lost and disconnected, we decided to make it our mission to search for ways to cultivate positive change in our world. Steve and daughter Erin Norris speak with Paul House. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-house-and-angie-gade-turning-tragedy-into-hope/id1540145428?i=1000542092853

WASHINGTON – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Ernest N. Vienneau, 25, of Millinocket, Maine, killed during World War II, was accounted for April 16, 2021. In the fall of 1944, Vienneau was a pilot assigned to the 340th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, based out of Amendola, Italy. On Nov. 6, the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber on which he was serving as co-pilot came under heavy anti-aircraft fire while on a mission over Maribor, Yugoslavia, in present-day Slovenia. During the barrage, a piece of flak penetrated the cockpit and struck Vienneau in the head, mortally wounding him. While the crew treated Vienneau, the pilot attempted to fly the damaged B-17 back to base. However, the aircraft could not make it and the pilot was forced to ditch off the coast of Vis Island, Croatia. The surviving 10 crew made it out of the aircraft, but Vienneau’s body could not be recovered from the rapidly sinking B-17. Following the war, his remains could not be found and recovered. In 2005, an analyst from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO), a predecessor to DPAA, received information concerning the wreck of a B-17, and later met with an official from the Croatian Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, who gave them information on the wreckage. However, definitive proof that this was Vienneau’s aircraft could not be obtained at that time. In June 2017, DPAA partnered with Lone Wolf Productions to document the underwater excavation of a B-24 Liberator aircraft wreckage off the coast of Vis Island, Croatia. The film became an episode of the PBS Nova program entitled "The Last B-24," which can be viewed at https://www.pbs.org/video/last-b-24-pequsf/. When the excavation was hampered by inclement weather, the team relocated the Croatian Navy ship to conduct a brief investigative dive on other wreckage believed to be Vienneau's B-17. This efforts is also featured in "The Last B-24" along with an interview with Vienneau's niece. Enough evidence was collected from that dive to enable an underwater recovery to be planned. In the fall of 2020, personnel from DPAA, Lund University, University of Zadar, the Croatian Conservation Institute, and the Croatian military recovered possible remains, which were sent to the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for analysis. To identify Vienneau’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Vienneau’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Vienneau will be buried in Oct. 9, 2021, in his hometown. For family and funeral information, contact the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490. DPAA is grateful to the Croatian divers who discovered the underwater crash site, as well as the Croatian Ministries of Veterans Affairs, Culture, and Defense, the Croatian Conservation Institute, the University of Zadar, and the team from Lund University whose divers operated at a depth of 72 meters during the recovery, for their steadfast partnership in this successful mission. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or https://www.linkedin.com/company/defense-pow-mia-accounting-agency. Vienneau’s personnel profile can be viewed at https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000bHtzAEAS.