Organization Honors Fallen Marines by Building Nature Retreat for Veterans

When Mark Schmitz lost his son, Jared, in Afghanistan in 2021, his world came crashing down.  

The oldest of his three children, and only son, Mark and Jared shared a special bond. More like best friends instead of father and son, the two were very close. Schmitz was proud that his son joined the Marine Corps in 2019 and accepted the pain of losing him on Aug. 26, 2021, when Jared, along with 12 other Marines, was killed in a suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

As the U.S. prepared to pull out of Afghanistan after a two-decade engagement, Jared and his fellow soldiers were busy evacuating thousands of residents out of the country when the bomb exploded at Abbey Gate, forever altering the lives of 13 Marine Corps families, including the Schmitzs. 

“When we lost Jared, our initial reaction was grief and shock, and trying to just pick up the pieces because you’re just lost with the situation of what the hell do you do now?” Schmitz told Military.com. “I’ve found, through this experience, that people tend to react to a tragedy like this in three different ways. There are those that dig a hole and can’t get past what’s happened; they sink into depression, those who just pick up the pieces, accept it and move on with their lives, and then there are those like us who want to basically take a tragedy and turn it into something positive." 

“We’ll always grieve – that will never go away, but we want to make sure that we honor the great work our son stood for and the purpose of why he became a Marine was to help other people. We want to carry that mission forward because he can’t anymore.” 

In the months following Jared’s death, Schmitz thought, What if military families and veterans had a place to go to forget about their struggles, if only for a week. 

It became the catalyst for The Freedom 13 Recreational Camps, a retreat-style destination, allowing veterans and law enforcement personnel to enjoy a week or so in the great outdoors, giving them the chance to build connections, form friendships and improve their mental health. The camps, part of The Freedom 13 non-profit organization founded by Schmitz, are also open to families of veterans, law enforcement, and Gold Star families. 

“Around November of 2021, my wife and I started talking about doing something to honor Jared’s legacy and hopefully come up with something where we could take care of his brothers and sisters in service,” Schmitz told Military.com. “We started doing some research into other recreational camps, and said, ‘Why don’t we build something to help treat those who have the invisible scars, PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies?’ We’re just trying to do our part to make sure every facet of the veteran community is covered.” 

The Freedom 13, named after the 13 brave Marines who lost their lives on Aug. 26, 2021, has a simple mission: to remember the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice by supporting the veterans still with us. 

Expanding Nationwide 

The organization’s goal is to build 50 recreational retreats (one in each U.S. state) consisting of 13 modestly sized 1 to 3-bedroom homes for families to stay in while they experience the fun and solitude of nature. 

“Our goal is to acquire 50,000 acres of land with 13 homes built on each site for 650 houses nationwide,” Schmitz said. “You do the math, and if you have full capacity all year long, you’re treating over 33,000 veterans and law enforcement officers and their families.” 

Schmitz’s vision started to become reality when, in October 2024, The Freedom 13 purchased its first property, 171 tree-lined acres near picturesque Bourbon, Missouri. In the past year and a half, progress has been slow but steady; the organization has constructed two homes on site with plans to finish 11 more as fundraising efforts ramp up. 

“While there is still much work ahead, each step forward brings us closer to our goal,” said Greg Doolin, brand ambassador for The Freedom 13, in an email to Military.com. 

The organization also plans to hire one paid veteran for each site to serve as property manager, living on the camp for free, with the remaining 12 homes designated for veterans, police officers, and their families. 

The two houses constructed in rural Missouri include an inground pool, a lake stocked with fish, a shooting range, several acres to hunt deer, pheasant, geese, ducks, turkey and coyote, along with miles of hiking and ATV trails. 

Fight to End Suicide 

In addition, the organization works to raise awareness of veteran suicide, bringing together various groups to collaborate on ways to curb a national crisis. Based on the most recent data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 35.2 out of 100,000 veterans died by suicide in 2023, the highest level since 2018. 

While Schmitz and Doolin, a veteran of both the Army and Marine Corps, know the recreational retreats won’t be a magic wand to end suicide, they believe it will serve as another option for mental healthcare and self-healing. 

“Much too often, the invisible injury of PTSD, depression, and suicide, manifests itself into both horrific personal and permanent injury, with veterans, police officers, surviving family members, and society, at large. The impact is devastating, and this should not be,” Doolin said. “Our mission is simple in theory, but massive in execution — to provide a place of rest, healing, and community for those who have spent their lives serving others.” 

The Freedom 13 is currently generating funds through a donation program of $13 per month and several fundraising events throughout the year, including the Freedom Backyard Ultra Marathon on June 6 (D-Day) and the Angels of Abbey Gate Memorial Ride for motorcycle enthusiasts on Aug. 15. 

Schmitz’s objectives may be bold, but he believes his son would take pride in the organization’s drive to help veterans and the law enforcement community, just like he was proud of Jared’s service and ultimate sacrifice. 

“We were always very competitive, whether it was wrestling each other, trying to gain the upper hand, or playing sports together,” Schmitz said. “So, I look at what we’re trying to do with The Freedom 13 as another way to have a friendly competition with my son, but for a good cause. Although, what he did, in evacuating hundreds of thousands of people from Afghanistan, I couldn’t accomplish in 10 lifetimes.”