Americanus Fidelis Lupus - The Loyal American Wolf

From One Veteran — and Family — to Another

Americanus Fidelis Lupus (AFL) is building a 100+ acre sanctuary for military members, veterans, first responders, and their families.

It’s a place to rest, reconnect, and rebuild — together.

Lodging, meals, therapies, classes, and activities will be completely free, because no family should have to choose between healing and affordability.

This is where “Thank you for your service” becomes more than words — it becomes a way of life.

One of Our Stories

I grew up in a family that lived and breathed the military. Both of my parents are combat veterans. Both of my grandfathers served. My brother and I enlisted in the Air Force at 17.

I’ve been the military child waiting for a phone call, the airman learning my place, and the NCO helping my team find theirs. I’ve seen every side of the uniform — and behind every uniform was a family waiting, praying, and sacrificing too.

At 18, I failed out of my first tech school. The Air Force reassigned me as an Admin troop (3F5). It wasn’t a glamorous job by far, but I made it my mission to be the person who helped others through theirs. Admins keep the machine running — handling promotions and pay, contracts, and systems — so others can focus on flying, fighting, and saving lives.

That experience taught me not only how to navigate government systems and regulations, but also how much support every single person and family needs to survive the demands of service life.

The Struggle After Service

When I left Active Duty in 2022, I wasn’t just a veteran — I was a single mother, a daughter, and a woman trying to rebuild life from the ground up. My military family was scattered across the world, my savings were gone, and the structure I’d relied on for years vanished overnight.

I wasn’t just trying to find a job — I was trying to find purpose.

So, I did what I knew: I started digging into the VA system. I learned some of the laws, the codes, the forms, and the loopholes. I joined every online group I could find and helped others where I could.

It took almost three years for my claim to go through. During that time, I saw countless people — many with families — paying thousands of dollars for help they should’ve gotten for free. Even my dad nearly went to one of those “disabled veteran helper” scams after 25 years, when he was in desperate need of help . That’s when the idea for AFL was born.

Where AFL Comes In

AFL is more than a retreat — it’s a family-centered sanctuary for those who serve and those who stand behind them.

We’re building a safe, peaceful, 100+ acre refuge where service members, veterans, first responders, and their families can breathe, heal, and rediscover purpose — together.

Because when one person serves, the whole family serves. The late-night worry, the missed holidays, the solo parenting, the constant waiting — those sacrifices deserve healing too.

What We’re Building

At AFL, the heart of what we offer will always be free:

• Lodging and meals for families to rest without financial stress.

• Therapies and wellness programs — equine, canine, and agricultural — designed to help both individuals and families heal through connection.

• Hands-on classes and workshops — from roping and gardening to home repair, sewing, survival skills, and benefits education.

• Community support circles for spouses, parents, and children — because the family needs care too.

• Cancer support for those that can feel where the systems are lacking in support — for the individual and their caretakers.

This isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a place to rebuild from the inside out.

Whether you’re a veteran or first responder learning to live as a civilian again, a spouse who’s held it all together for years, or a child who just needs to see their parent smile again — AFL is for you.

Why It Matters

When service ends, the struggle doesn’t. Families lose their community, their support networks, and often their sense of identity. The ones who spend years waiting by the phone or holding down the fort are left trying to figure out what’s next too.

That isolation can eat away at hope — and it doesn’t just affect the veteran. It ripples through entire families.

AFL exists to change that. We’re creating a place where everyone — not just the service members but their families are able to find connection, confidence, and calm again.

Because healing isn’t something we do alone. It’s something we do as a family and community.

(Psst) Here’s how you can make an impact:

There are nearly 18 million veterans and over 1.5 million first responders in this country — not counting the families who’ve stood beside them every step of the way.

Our goal is to raise $5 million to bring this sanctuary to life. That goal is achievable, but we need your voice to help spread the word.

• Pass it on to the elders — those who served long ago who may not be online and could use a peaceful place to rest.

• Share our story online and in person.

• Share with the veteran, the police officer, the firefighter, the medic, or a spouse you know

• Talk about AFL at your local breakfast spot, with your church group, or around the dinner table.

Every post, every share, every conversation helps us take another step toward breaking ground.

Our Promise

AFL isn’t just a project — it’s a commitment to every service member, first responder, spouse, and child who has sacrificed for this country.

When we say, “Thank you for your service,” we don’t just mean the one in uniform.

We mean the whole family who carried that weight with them.

Because here, we don’t just say it.

We build it.

We can’t wait to meet you and see how far this community can reach and grow. We have opportunities available for those who would like to join the cause, please visit the Opportunties website to sign up!

Very Sincerely,

Raquel MacKenzie