[ SECTOR: CORE MISSION ]
Who We Are
The Cedar Forest Program is a veteran‑led moral injury recovery and reintegration program for U.S. service members and veterans. We focus on treatment, education, and research that honor the real cost of service and the weight many warriors still carry. Healing here doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through brotherhood, guided reflection, and purpose‑driven reintegration, so warriors can move forward while still honoring what they’ve lived through.
We created the Cedar Forest Program because we saw a painful gap in real help for moral injury. As veterans, we tried almost every treatment option available, therapy, groups, medications, and more. Many helped a little, but none reached the deep moral and spiritual wounds we carried. Out of that lived experience, we built this program to address what was missing and to offer a clearer, more honest path toward healing, meaning, and belonging.
[ NARRATIVE CLASSIFICATION: ORIGIN ]
Why Cedar Forest?
The Wound of Moral Injury
Moral injury is a profound inner wound to a person’s sense of trust, meaning, and identity. It occurs when a person experiences or witnesses events that deeply violate their core values and moral beliefs. This concept is as old as warfare itself; in the ancient epic, Gilgamesh’s choices led to the loss of Enkidu, leaving him to carry a heavy burden of grief and existential questioning. Today, many U.S. service members and veterans return home with similar invisible burdens. Unlike physical scars, this injury affects the soul, emerging from the complex realities of service. It is a human response to the unthinkable, signaling a need to restore the connection between one's actions, their identity, and their place in the world.
Ancient Roots in Gilgamesh
The Cedar Forest comes from the world’s oldest warrior epic. In the myth, Gilgamesh’s decision to conquer the forest and slay its guardian leads directly to the tragic death of his brother-in-arms, Enkidu. This ancient story mirrors the reality of modern war: choices made in conflict often carry heavy, unexpected consequences that result in a deep inner wound. For many veterans, this ‘moral injury’ is the internal landscape they must navigate long after the mission ends.
Healing in Community
We help warriors navigate the Cedar Forest together, never alone. Just as Gilgamesh could not face the forest without Enkidu, modern warriors are not meant to carry moral injury in isolation. Through peer-led groups, guided reflection, and shared storytelling, we provide a trusted community where experiences are named and witnessed. Here, burdens are transformed into communal strength, allowing your story to be slowly integrated into a renewed sense of purpose and identity.
Our Board
We are a veteran‑led team with more than 30 years of combined military and nonprofit experience, backed by formal training in psychology, philosophy, business management, and law, we are all focused on building better paths to moral injury recovery and long‑term healing.
Brandon
Brandon Harris is a Marine Corps infantryman with three deployments to Afghanistan and cofounder of the Cedar Forest Program. Drawing from his experience in combat and leadership, his work focuses on resilience, recovery, and the restoration of identity through peer support, experiential healing, and community.
He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in performance psychology. Brandon’s approach integrates research, lived experience, and a deep commitment to guiding others through challenge toward growth, strength, and renewal.
Drake
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Jaye
Jaye brings over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, dedicated to serving individuals and communities facing complex challenges. Her work has included leadership and support for organizations addressing underage substance abuse, domestic and sexual violence, and housing for families of terminally and chronically ill children, as well as veterans of post-9/11 wars.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Management with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership and undergraduate degrees in Behavioral Science. Jaye’s work reflects a steady, compassionate approach to fostering resilience, healing, and meaningful growth.
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Andrew
Seth
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Buster
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