It’s U.S. Marine Corps veteran Chris Sadler’s personal mission to make sure no veteran is forgotten or left behind.
In July 2020, Sadler, along with his wife, Mandi, and their family opened Honor Café, a military themed restaurant in downtown Conroe.
Military memorabilia is draped from floor to ceiling and photos of veterans cover the walls of the establishment. He aimed to create a welcoming environment where veterans felt comfortable coming together and leaning on each other when need be.
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Each day, veterans and their families come to eat there, and Chris Sadler tries to visit with as many of the vets as possible, getting to know their stories and the triumphs and tragedies they face.
He noticed some senior veterans weren’t getting regular meals because they couldn’t afford it, so he and his family personally helped them.
Out of his desire to help veterans one-on-one, the nonprofit Honor Up was born. The motto for the new group is “When you see a veteran in need, bring them up. We honor up.”
Veteran suicide is another topic that is heavy on his heart. He’s lost too many friends to not be called to action.
“It’s a major issue that we’ve been silent about, waiting for someone to handle it,” he said. “As our friend group dwindles, it has become more and more serious. How many catastrophic car accidents would someone need to have in their friend group before car accidents were a big deal to them. We’re losing people that we shouldn’t be losing.”
One day, he was angry and talking to a friend at Honor Café.
“Say you and I decided to go gambling in Louisiana. For two hours before we get there along Interstate 10 and even in Beaumont there’s 50 different signs for help with gambling addiction,” he said. “What if there was something like that for veterans to stop someone from making that decision and let them know there is someone they can talk to right now.”
He believes the Honor Up group can put together a program based on resources that are already available, but maybe not well known. It’s his vision to have a campaign that has been as visible as Mothers Against Drunk Driving that could go from coast to coast.
“This is a reoccurring term, I keep having people come in here or their family comes here searching for comfort after a horrible situation. This is happening over and over and over again,” he said.
He and his board including Mandi Sadler, Cara Johnson, Janeen McSwain, Bruce Stewart and Michael Johnson also want to help the families of veterans who are in a tough spot.
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The group recently hosted its first joint fundraiser with the Paralyzed Veterans of America for the Bell family of Conroe.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Bell is a recruiter in Conroe. His son, Brodie, will turn 16 soon and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Brodie was in need of a motorized, standing assist wheelchair that costs $54,000 to aid with his independence.
Johnson, secretary for the group, said the fundraiser came together in about two weeks and she marveled at how quickly the community rallied together to help this teen. Johnson’s son is a military veteran and she’s known the Sadlers since the restaurant opened.
At the end of the event at Honor Café July 15, Brodie left in a motorized wheelchair with stand assist that was purchased with support from the community, Honor Up volunteers and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. A shower chair was donated as well.
“He left that night with a huge amount of mobility that he didn’t have when he rolled in,” Sadler said. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of Montgomery County.”
Now Brodie is testing out his new independence which allows him to do dishes, make his own lunch and more. He also wants to get his first job, maybe at Honor Café.
“For me the thing that gets me is he can stand to my height and put his arms around me to hug me,” said his mom, Sarah.
Johnson said they’re already talking about future fundraisers and veterans in need have been reaching out since the event.
Visit the Honor Up Facebook page for more information.
