A Journey to the Light Ministries, inc.

08/13/2026

🚨 ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! 🚨

Our HOPE Retreat is almost here! If you’ve been thinking about applying, this is your sign to stop thinking about it and take that next step!

The HOPE Retreat is completely FREE for Wisconsin veterans and service members and is built around connection, growth, and finding tools to strengthen every part of life.

Five Pillars of HOPE:
Mental • Physical • Social • Financial • Spiritual

⏰ Registration closes in TWO DAYS!
🎟️ Only a few spots remain

Know a veteran or service member who could benefit? Please share this with them. Sometimes one share is all it takes to reach the person who needs to see it.

👉 Apply today!

08/12/2026

🇺🇸 PRESENTING SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 🇺🇸

We are excited and proud to recognize Municipal Well & Pump as our Presenting Battalion Sponsor of our 2026 HOPE Retreat!

Based in Waupun, Municipal Well & Pump has been serving communities for more than 100 years. Today, they are an employee-owned company providing well and pump services throughout Wisconsin and across the Midwest, with a company culture centered around faith, family, integrity, and teamwork.

Those values make their support of the HOPE Retreat especially meaningful to us.
Their generous sponsorship helps us provide this retreat at no cost to the veterans and service members who attend, giving participants a weekend dedicated to connection, healing, growth, and renewed hope.

We are incredibly grateful to have a local company like Municipal Well & Pump standing behind our veterans, our mission, and this year's retreat.

Thank you, Municipal Well & Pump, for helping us turn compassion into action. ❤️🤍💙

https://municipalwellandpump.com

08/11/2026

🇺🇸 MEET THE RETREAT COMMITTEE | MARK FLOWER

Meet Mark Flower, co-founder of Dryhootch of America and a member of our HOPE Retreat Committee!

Mark was involved in the day-to-day operations of Dryhootch at the executive level, while also continuing to work directly with veterans as a peer mentor and alongside his own mentors.

A veteran of the Vietnam and Cold War era, Mark joined the Army in 1976 and served on active duty with the 25th Infantry Division through 1980. From 1981 to 2006, he continued serving with the 84th Training Division and the 452nd Combat Support Hospital in Milwaukee, serving as a Tank Commander, Instructor/Evaluator, Field Sanitation NCO, and Medic.

Mark also has a powerful story of recovery. After struggling with alcoholism and drugs, he began his recovery journey in September 1993 and has remained substance-free ever since. He has used his experience to help others on their own journeys, managing halfway houses and transitional living facilities, including Manitoba House and Sal’s House, as well as the Alano Foundation.

We’re grateful to have Mark’s experience, perspective, and passion for helping fellow veterans as part of this year’s HOPE Retreat Committee. 🇺🇸

08/06/2026

https://www.journeytothelight.org/hoperetreat?

🌿 Only 5 Spots Left for Our HOPE Retreat! 🌿

There’s still time to join us for the upcoming HOPE Retreat, but space is filling quickly — we have just 5 spots remaining!

This retreat is an opportunity to step away from the everyday, recharge, and focus on your well-being in a supportive and welcoming environment.

As part of the retreat, participants will have access to a variety of wellness services, including:

✨ Chiropractic care
✨ Acupuncture
✨ Massage therapy
✨ Craniosacral therapy

If you’ve been thinking about attending, this is a great opportunity to give yourself the time and space to reset, reconnect, and experience something designed with your well-being in mind.

💚 Only 5 spots remain — reach out soon to reserve yours!

Please share this post with someone who may benefit from the HOPE Retreat. Sometimes the person who needs it most simply needs to know the opportunity is there.

Are you a Veteran or Service Member located in Wisconsin, with a desire to build a stronger foundation of mind, body, and spirit? Join us at Camp American Legion for our H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Patriots Excel) Retreat!

07/27/2026

Healing isn't one-dimensional. Neither is wellness.

At the H.O.P.E. Retreat, we believe lasting growth happens when we care for the whole person, not just one piece of the puzzle.

That's why every part of our retreat is built around five pillars of wellness.

🧠 Mental
Build resilience, manage stress, strengthen emotional well-being, and discover practical tools to navigate life's challenges.
💪 Physical
Learn ways to care for your body through movement, nutrition, sleep, and healthy habits that support long-term wellness.
🤝 Social
Find connection with others who understand your experiences. Strong relationships and a supportive community can be some of the greatest sources of healing.
💵 Financial
Gain practical knowledge and resources to help reduce financial stress, plan for the future, and build confidence in your financial journey.
🙏 Spiritual
Explore purpose, hope, and personal growth in a welcoming environment that encourages reflection, regardless of where you are in your faith journey.

These pillars aren't separate. They work together to create a stronger foundation for everyday life.

Our goal is simple: to equip you with tools, resources, and meaningful connections that continue long after the retreat ends. Because healing isn't about one weekend. It's about building a foundation for the future.

There is still time to apply to attend! Learn more and apply today: www.journeytothelight.org

Journey to the Light Inc is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the lives of Veterans, Service Members, First Responders, their families, and our local community members. We offer a variety of programs and services that aim to improve people's overall well-being,....

07/09/2026

Matthew Shadley serves on the H.O.P.E. Retreat Committee and is also a Board member of Journey to the Light Ministries.

Matt began his service to our country by joining the United States Marine Corps at just 17 years old in 2003. During his military career, he completed three tours in Iraq, earned the rank of Sergeant, and concluded his active-duty service in 2007.

After returning to Wisconsin, Matt earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. He began his law enforcement career with the Dodge County Sheriff's Office in 2014 as a Correctional Officer before joining the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office in 2020 as a Correctional Deputy.

In August 2025, Matt transitioned into the private sector and now serves as a Quality and Compliance Leader at Vista Care, where he helps ensure high-quality services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Matt is also a proud father of two, Olivia (9) and Presley (8). His lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and supporting others makes him a valued member of our committee.

07/01/2026

Veterans can request their military medals and ribbons for a variety of personal, practical, or commemorative reasons.

The most common reasons include:

1) Loss or damage

2) Obtain a pristine set of decorations to display, frame, or pass down to their children and grandchildren

3) May have the ribbon and not the medal, or never received either

4) To wear at special occasions: formal events, weddings, or funerals (even their own)

For most veterans and eligible next-of-kin, the military branches provide a one-time replacement of awards at no cost. To do this online, veterans must have an https://id.me account to log into the https://archives.gov website.

If the award is not on the DD214, the veteran may get the DD214 corrected with a DD Form 149. The DD Form 149 is generally used when you’re asking a military corrections board to change your records because the evidence isn’t already reflected in your official file or because the service previously denied the correction. If submitting DD Form 149, be sure to include evidence (e.g. citation); or if requesting a campaign or expeditionary medal for being deployed to an active foreign conflict, then must provide proof you were "there", such as orders, or performance evaluation, etc. However, if the military determines you earned an award based on your official records, they may issue a DD Form 215 (a correction to the DD214) without requiring a DD Form 149 in every case. If you no longer have evidence of awards not on your DD214, you might try requesting your OMPF in the same way you request medals (SF180 -online or hardcopy). There may be evidence therein.

Unfortunately, Journey to the Light Ministries cannot request replacement ribbons and medals for you, this is simply for information purposes.

06/24/2026

Brooke Straks serves on the H.O.P.E. Retreat Committee and is the President of Journey to the Light Ministries. She is the sister of the ministry's founder, veteran Brennan Wegener, whose passion for serving others and advocating for those in need continues to inspire the organization's mission today. Having witnessed Brennan's struggles firsthand, Brooke understands the challenges many veterans and their families face and is committed to carrying forward his vision of ensuring they have access to support, resources, and a community that genuinely cares.

Brooke is passionate about supporting those who often feel unheard or overlooked and believes every individual deserves dignity, respect, and a voice. Through her work with the H.O.P.E. Retreat, she is dedicated to creating opportunities for connection, healing, and hope while honoring Brennan's legacy and reminding participants that they are never alone in their journey.

🇺🇸❤️

06/24/2026

🇺🇸 At the H.O.P.E. Retreat, we believe lasting wellness comes from nurturing every aspect of life.

That's why our retreat is built around five key pillars:
🧠 Mental
💪 Physical
🤝 Social
💵 Financial
🙏 Spiritual

These pillars guide the education, resources, conversations, and experiences we provide throughout the retreat, helping participants build a stronger foundation for the future.

In the coming weeks, we'll be taking a closer look at each pillar and sharing how they help support veterans, service members, first responders, and their families on their journey toward healing, growth, and hope.

Helping Our Patriots Excel.

🇺🇸❤️💙

06/23/2026

🇺🇸 A heartfelt thank you to MCU 4 Vets for their generous $1,000 donation to Journey to the Light Ministries!

For several years, MCU 4 Vets has been a supporter of our mission, helping us serve veterans, service members, first responders, and their families. Their organization works to bridge the gaps that often exist between veterans and the resources they need, ensuring no one has to navigate life's challenges alone.

This partnership holds special meaning to us because Cayla, the leader of MCU 4 Vets, knew our founder, Brennan Wegener. Seeing organizations like MCU 4 Vets continue to carry forward the spirit of service, advocacy, and community that Brennan was so passionate about is truly inspiring.

We are honored to accept this donation on behalf of those we serve and are grateful for the continued support, friendship, and dedication of the entire MCU 4 Vets team.

Thank you for helping us bring hope, healing, and connection to our nation's heroes. ❤️🤍💙