Finding fellowship on Logan Martin Lake
Story by Paul South
Submitted photos
Patriotism filled the air and boat wakes cut across Lake Logan Martin as veterans came together, not for duty, but for fellowship, gratitude and a day of well-deserved appreciation.
Houston Project, a veterans assistance program based in Pell City, hosted the Second Annual Veterans Taking Veterans Boating event on May 20.
Five boats captained by Navy, Air Force and Army veterans took 19 residents from the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home out on the water for a morning filled with sunshine, laughter and connection.
“Their smiles said it all,” said Michelle Tumlin, founder of Houston Project. “We could tell they were making wonderful memories.”
Houston Project was founded in honor of Tumlin’s son, Houston Tumlin, an Army veteran who died by suicide in 2021. The non-profit organization provides financial assistance, connects veterans with critical resources and raises awareness about PTSD, depression and suicide.
“A main focus for us is to love on veterans as much as we can,” Tumlin said. “We want them to know they are not forgotten once the uniform comes off. Too many struggle in silence, and if we can bring even a few moments of joy, connection or hope, then we are doing exactly what Houston would have wanted.”
The Veterans Taking Veterans Boating event was founded by Dawn Lovell, a Navy veteran and a member of the board of directors for Houston Project.
“I started this event because I wanted veterans to have the chance to connect with one another in a peaceful, uplifting environment,” Lovell said. “There is something healing about being on the water, and when veterans are serving veterans, it creates a bond that words can’t fully describe.”
After a few hours on Lake Logan Martin, the veterans, staff members from the Veterans Home and Houston Project volunteers fellowshipped at Lakeside Park with a lunch of smoked pork chops, chicken, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and banana pudding catered by Russell and Cindy Howard.
“We are incredibly grateful to the staff at the Veterans Home for the love and care they give every day, and to the volunteers who showed up and worked tirelessly to make this event possible,” Tumlin said. “This truly takes a village, and ours is full of people who deeply care about our veterans.”
Organizers said the timing of the boating event was intentional – held in the days leading up to Memorial Day.
“We hold this event so close to Memorial Day because it reminds us that service does not end when someone leaves the military,” Lovell said. “It’s a way to honor those who served and those who never came home while still celebrating those who are here with us.”
As Memorial Day approached, Tumlin also reflected on the families who carry the loss of their loved ones.
“Memorial Day is not just about remembrance,” she said. “It’s a day for gratitude and grief to exist side by side. We honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we also honor the families that continue to carry that loss every single day. Their sacrifice lives on, and they should never be forgotten.” l
Editor’s Note: For more information about Houston Project, go to www.houston-project.org or visit Houston Project headquarters at 1916 Cogswell Ave., Pell City.
