Bravo Zulu House director Tim Murray cuts the ribbon at the ceremony held on Wednesday, May 28, at the new veterans home located northwest of Winnebago.

Just over a year after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Bravo Zulu House and its many supporters celebrated the Grand Opening of the sober living home for veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) on Wednesday in rural Winnebago.

Plans, however, for the Bravo Zulu House have been in the works for the last few years, ever since Tim Murray, Executive Director of Trinity Sober Homes, began looking at what other demographic needed to be served. In doing research, he discovered that 20 to 30 veterans a day nationwide are committing suicide and thousands more struggle with PTSD.

Bravo Zulu House will serve male veterans coming out of treatment facilities and act as a transitional home that will provide special services to treat PTSD, including canine therapy and hydroponic farming.

That’s always been the goal from the get-go and while some plans have changed since the groundbreaking- the original plan was to remodel a house and instead a 5,000 square foot barndominium or “shouse” was built- everyone came together on Wednesday to celebrate the near completion of the facility and the start of what’s to come next.

“This is a significant moment in history. This year we’ve had some firsts. We have the first American pope. Now in the month of May, it’s not only mental health month, but military month. It’s only fitting that we bring together this fusion of mental health and military to celebrate the Bravo Zulu House,” said Murray, before acknowledging the veterans present in the crowd of about 300.

He shared that Governor Tim Waltz had declared the day, May 28, as Bravo Zulu House day in the state of Minnesota. While she was not present, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s Southern Minnesota outreach director, Chuck Ackerman, spoke on her behalf and congratulated everyone on their commitment to and effort on the project.

“We know that one veteran struggling with drugs and PTSD and lost to suicide is one veteran too many. We can and we must do better. Bravo Zulu House is more than just a building, it provides a lifeline to veterans, supporting those with PTSD and addiction and empowering them during a challenging transition,” Ackerman read.

Several others spoke during the Grand Opening ceremony, including Jean Anderson, the mayor of Winnebago, and Lee Baarts, the mayor of Fairmont, who read a proclamation from the city, which also declared May 28, 2025 as Bravo Zulu House day in the city of Fairmont.

Some organizations that aided the project had representatives present, including Sofia Humphries, Senior Director of Community Impact at Housing First Minnesota, which gifted $100,000 to the Bravo Zulu House.

Murray thanked countless others who, 100 weeks ago when conversations about the project began, were instrumental in bringing it to this point.

“That small group, over the last 100 weeks, has generated over 900 meetings and presentations and one on one opportunities that then generated over 800 individuals and over 100 businesses that donated a total of $1.3 million and that includes over 50 American Legion organizations, Rotary Clubs… the Elks, Knights of Columbus, that have donated cash, labor and materials,” Murray said.

To wrap up the program, Congressman Brad Finstad presented Murray with a flag that he had flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of the Grand Opening and also addressed the crowd.

In closing, Joseph Votel, retired four-star general in the U.S. Army, spoke and called the Bravo Zulu House a world-class pioneering step in veteran care.

While much of the work on the Bravo Zulu House has been completed, Murray said they are still fundraising for a dog kennel as each of the 13 tenants will be assigned a dog for therapy use. Those interested and willing to donate can do so at BravoZuluHouse.org.