The Sanctuary on the Hill

11/04/2026

We’re just over two weeks away from the 2026 Mogadishu Mile & Canned Food Drive!🥫🏃🇺🇸

Date: Saturday, November 21st
Time: 10am-11:30am CST
Where: 10433 Ditney Hill Road, Elberfeld,
IN, United States, 47613 (Sanctuary on the Hill)

This is a FREE community event open to all ages! We welcome civilians, law enforcement, veterans, military families, and anyone who wants to come together in support of a meaningful cause.

All you need are three things:
1. Comfortable outdoor shoes (whatever you prefer for an outdoor one mile walk or run.
2. A backpack or rucksack (to carry your canned food donations)
3. Canned food (bring whatever amount you are comfortable carrying. There is no minimum donation requirement)

Please take a moment to complete the volunteer form so we can better prepare for the event:
https://dash.pointapp.org/events/813936

A quick note about the trails: Our volunteers have been working to improve the trails, and they are now more accessible and easier to navigate. However, please keep in mind that they will not be paved by the time of event.

We look forward to bringing our community together for a day of remembrance, service, and camaraderie as we honor the fallen heroes of Mogadishu and those who continue to serve. We hope to see you there! 🇺🇸

11/04/2026

A veteran’s legacy deserves a place where it can be remembered for generations. 🇺🇸

Our Commemorative Tile & Bench Campaign is about more than honoring those who served. It’s about creating a lasting place for families to visit, share stories, and see their loved ones’ names permanently recognized while helping fund programs that directly impact veterans.

As Josh Distelhorst shares, imagine a future generation walking these grounds and seeing their grandfather’s name among those who served.

Help us make that vision a reality. Learn more at https://www.thesanctuaryonthehill.org/memorial-bricks

11/03/2026

👏🏼 We’ve reached 2,867 followers! Can we hit 3k by Veterans Day??

Help us spread the word! Share this post with your friends and family so more people can learn about our mission and the work we’re doing to support our veterans. Thank you to everyone who has been sharing our posts!

Every share helps us reach more people and make a greater impact. ❤️🇺🇸

Let’s reach 3,000 by November 11th!

Learn more:

Mission First is a veterans nonprofit building The Sanctuary on the Hill: 90+ wooded acres in Warrick County, in the Evansville Tri-State, where veterans and their families can rest, reconnect, and heal.

11/01/2026

Grab your umbrella and join us for the final day of The Wall That Heals in Evansville! 🌧️🇺🇸

The closing ceremony will begin at 1:45 PM today, and this is an incredible opportunity to pay tribute to those who have served and honor the sacrifices made by our veterans.

A special thank you to our Sanctuary on the Hill volunteers who set up a table this weekend to share our mission and lend a helping hand at this meaningful event. We appreciate you taking the time to support both our mission and our veteran community!

If you haven’t had a chance to visit, today is your last opportunity. Come out, pay your respects, and experience this powerful tribute. ❤️

📸Photo Creds: Joe Todd | Board Member & US Army veteran

10/30/2026

We’ve officially raised $30,000 so far through our Commemorative Tile & Bench Campaign!!! 👏🏼🇺🇸

To everyone who has already purchased a tile or bench, donated, or shared our mission, THANK YOU! Your support means more than you know.

Every contribution helps us build a place where veterans can find connection, support, healing, and the resources they deserve. Our goal is to make a lasting impact on the lives of every veteran we have the opportunity to serve. After all they have sacrificed in service to our country, they deserve a place where they feel supported, valued, and never forgotten.

Help us spread the word! Share this post on your personal pages, tell your friends and family, and encourage others to get involved. You never know who might be looking for a special way to honor a veteran or support our mission.

Our goal is 5,000 commemorative tiles, and every single one ordered brings us one step closer. Let’s keep the momentum going! 🇺🇸

Ready to secure your tile or bench today? Click here:
https://thesanctuaryonthehill.org/memorial-bricks

10/29/2026

A meaningful opportunity to honor and remember those who served. 🇺🇸

The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is coming to Evansville from October 29 through November 1. The memorial honors the more than 58,000 service members whose names are inscribed on its walls and provides a space for reflection, remembrance, and healing.

We encourage our community to take time to visit this powerful tribute and honor the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

📍USI Broadway Recreational Complex | Evansville, IN

Learn more about visiting, event details, and volunteer opportunities:
https://www.usi.edu/outreach/thewallthathealsevansville2026

📸Photo Creds: Joe Todd, Board Member & US Army veteran

10/28/2026

On , we recognize those who dedicate themselves to keeping our communities safe and strong. 🇺🇸

Our communities are stronger, safer, and more resilient because of the men and women who show up when we need them most. From police officers and firefighters to EMTs and paramedics, first responders are the backbone of our communities, providing courage, compassion, and support in our most critical moments.

Today, we honor their service and sacrifice and recognize the important role they play in protecting our neighbors, supporting our families, and keeping our communities strong. Thank you for always answering the call. ❤️🤍💙

10/27/2026

🇺🇸 Stories Behind the Tile: Dan Oates

Nearly two centuries separate these two stories of service, but one name connects them: Swamp Fox.

During the Revolutionary War, Dan Oates’s ancestor, MAJ Jesse Oates, served alongside General Francis Marion, famously known as the “Swamp Fox,” in South Carolina.

Fast forward 195 years, and Dan found himself serving in Vietnam with the 199th Aviation Company, an O-1 Bird Dog reconnaissance unit whose call sign was also “Swamp Fox.” For one year, Dan served as Swamp Fox 26, logging an incredible 1,400 flight hours.

Today, Dan is honoring his ancestor and this remarkable family connection with a commemorative tile on The Sanctuary on the Hill Freedom Walk. His story is a powerful reminder that the legacy of service can span generations, and that every name has a story worth preserving.
Thank you, Dan Oates, for sharing your family’s story and helping us honor the generations who have served. 🇺🇸

You can help preserve a legacy, honor a veteran, or recognize someone who has made a difference by securing your own commemorative tile.

👉 Secure your tile here: https://www.thesanctuaryonthehill.org/memorial-bricks