May 6, 2025
It’s a new place for those younger vets in need.
“We can do better than sending a soldier off to live with hundreds of other folks who don’t share his experience,” said Col. John Folsom, executive director of Dunham House.
Supporters broke ground on the Dunham House Tuesday afternoon.
The assisted living facility will be located off of 60th and State Streets.
“Here we are 22 years later, and we have evolved into Dunham House,” said Lt. Gen. John Sylvester, chairman of the board.
The idea for the house started back in 2003. Folsom was serving in Iraq when he visited a hospital full of wounded soldiers.
“I’ll never forget this,” Folsom said. “His mother was on his right side holding his hand, his sister was on his left side holding his hand. He couldn’t speak. I thought to myself, kind of an epiphany if you will… Who is going to look after him?”
And that is exactly what the Dunham House plans to do — provide care and community for combat-wounded vets.
“You know what happens when a soldier is evacuated from the battlefield? They are evacuated in their birthday suits,” Sylvester said. “Some of these kids are here for protracted periods of time and they have nothing. They don’t have clothes. They have lost limbs, many of them are immobile, they can’t do anything. Can we do something for them?”
“The reality is, mom and dad are aging out,” Folsom said. “Mom and dad are to a point now in their lives where they can no longer take care of their young veterans who are with them.”
First Alert 6 originally reported that the land is already paid for. They also have $8 million in the bank for construction.
Sylvester said all of it has come from donations.
“It is going to cost us money, and right now we are funded 100% by donation,” he said.
Although the organization has acquired no debt, leaders say any financial assistance is still helpful.
“We have thousands of combat-wounded soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines that have traumatic brain injury,” Folsom said.
“Those of you who happen to be watching this thing, think about that and think whether or not you would like to reach out and help and take care of our nation’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who need it,” Sylvester said.
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Dunham House will provide combat-wounded veterans with top-level care and a supportive community where they can live with dignity and independence. Dunham House includes housing and amenities to accommodate 30 veterans in Omaha, Nebraska. Dunham House is an initiative and project development with Omaha-based nonprofit Wounded Warriors Family Support. For more information about Dunham House, visit dunhamhouse.org.
Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. This organization is run by combat veterans for combat veterans. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Wounded Warriors Family Support aids veterans and their families in healing the wounds that medicine cannot.
