Our Story:
The Veterans Freedom Center began in a humble garage between 19th and 20th Streets in Dubuque, Iowa. Jim Wagner, our recently deceased co-founder, was a Vietnam veteran who served with the 199th Infantry "recon" squadron.
After returning home, he found himself battling more than just physical wounds. Despite receiving the Purple Heart for his valor in rescuing fellow soldiers during a devastating ambush that claimed the lives of his lieutenant and two infantrymen, Jim couldn't escape the nightmares.
For years, he relived every element of those dark battle scenes—the nauseating smell of blood, the deafening sounds of explosive fire, and the horror of seeing comrades dying. Traditional counseling helped, but Jim needed something more—something to do and somewhere to go.
In 2009, restoration of an '85 Monte Carlo in Jim's rented garage became the concentrated focus that gradually drew him out of his shell. With his wife's support, he began inviting other veterans to help with his project. What started as simple auto mechanics evolved into profound healing.
Al Rowell, our current president and co-founder alongside Jim, discovered the garage to be "a safe refuge of understanding." Al struggled with powerful triggers—the scent of soy sauce would transport him back to Vietnam; burning wood would spark visions of napalm bombs. In Jim's garage, where veterans worked side by side, Al found space to slowly process his past while focusing on meaningful work.
When one veteran brought a scroll saw to the garage, Al discovered a new passion. Today, he's an instructor and the most prolific scroll saw artist at the Veterans Freedom Center, as well as the organization's president, carrying forward the legacy of service and healing.