10/11/2026
BATTLE BORNE® TESTIMONIAL
A Story of Hope, Recovery, and the Power of Connection.
My name is Brian. I’m 42 years old, and I have been living at the Battle Borne Barracks since March 2025.
For most of my adult life, I’ve struggled on and off with mental health challenges and addiction. In February 2025, I found myself at an inpatient treatment facility, trying to figure out my next steps in life. At the time, I was living in South Philadelphia, but I wanted to relocate to the Lehigh Valley, where my family lives, so I could be closer to my support system.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about housing, but the answer came in the form of an angel named Chris Yarnell.
I had known Chris for a long time, but we hadn’t seen each other in years. He came to speak at the treatment center where I was staying, and I shared with him that I wanted to move back to the Lehigh Valley and needed help finding housing. Although I knew about Battle Borne, I had no idea the organization had opened its own transitional living home for veterans.
Call it fate, or call it God, but Chris told me about the Battle Borne Barracks. As it turned out, they had one bed available, and he offered it to me.
After completing inpatient treatment, I moved into the Battle Borne Barracks in March 2025, and I am incredibly grateful to be here.
Chris and the entire Battle Borne team have gone above and beyond to ensure that the other residents and I have a beautiful, safe place to live, along with the tools and resources we need to get back on our feet and find our way in life again.
It’s difficult to find the words to express just how much it has meant to have a safe, comfortable place to call home while I work on rebuilding myself and getting my life back on track.
Since arriving at the Barracks, my life has improved in so many ways. I’m close to my family and friends, who mean the world to me. Battle Borne found me an incredible job opportunity that has restored my confidence and provided financial security—something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
I’ve also connected with my local recovery community, regularly attending 12 step meetings and sober events. I participate in outpatient therapy and work with my own private therapist because I’m committed to personal growth and becoming a better person.
On top of that, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with Battle Borne at several events, where I’ve met so many amazing people and become part of a community that genuinely cares.
I’ll end by saying that the world we live in today is very different from the one I grew up in. Things can feel overwhelming, and so many people are struggling with mental health challenges and addiction.
But one thing I can say with confidence is that some of the most powerful tools for healing are connection, community, and the support of our fellow human beings.
That’s what I’ve found through Battle Borne and the incredible people I’ve met since moving into the Barracks. I’ve learned that recovery isn’t something we have to face alone, and having a safe place to live, people who believe in you, and a community that supports you can make all the difference.
I’m still a work in progress, but every day has been a little brighter since I moved here.— Brian | Battle Borne Barracks Resident
Battle Borne® | Together, We Rise 🇺🇲
● It's important to note that Brian has moved on to independent living in a different part of the state since his stay with us ●
