Welcome to Lee Maine
On June 23, 2007 his motherÂ’s birthday, Sgt.Joel House was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on patrol in Taji, Iraq. On November 30, 2007 Blair Emery was killed by an IED while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. Both soldiers were from Lee, Maine.
Welcome to Lee Maine is a documentary film that is about a small close-knit town (pop 845) in rural Maine that has to cope with its loss as the smallest town in America to lose two sons in the Iraqi Conflict. Lee is a patriotic, rural town with strong Christian values, a long history of service in the armed forces that comes together as a community to overcome its loss and heartbreak. While many may differ about the war - the people of Lee are united in their support of the families and each other in their loss.
Like the phoenix rising from the ashes of war, in the midst of his grief, Paul House, father of Sgt. Joel House, has a dream - to bring families who have lost loved ones in combat together in the Maine wilderness together to experience the solace of nature.
Paul enlists Bill Emery, father of Sgt. Blair Emery in his dream,They tell all who will listen. Their inspirational and relentless efforts attract the attention of the Maine Governor who gives them the support they need to make their dream a reality. A sanctuary, in Lee Maine where grieving families from across the nation can come and begin to heal.