Veterans Stand Down event next week at fairgrounds

Photo by Paul Robeson

PREPARATIONS: Dale Streetman, left, works with Stand Down Point Man Don Boardman as they prepare for the Veterans Stand Down at the Shasta District Fairgrounds.

For the second year running, a Stand Down event for North State homeless veterans will be held for at the Shasta District Fairgrounds, Oct. 16-17.

In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover were told to “stand down” and were removed from battlefields to a place of relative security and safety. Today, a stand down refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 275,000 homeless veterans as they combat life on the streets. The “hand up, not a hand out” philosophy of a stand down is carried out through the work of volunteers and organizations throughout Shasta County. A stand down event is one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans.

Stand downs are typically one- to three-day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment. There are stand down events throughout California, including Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego, Chico, Yuba City and Eureka.

Don Boardman, the Point Man, or leader, of the North State Stand Down program will once again be in charge of this year’s event and expects to see many more than the 142 homeless veterans and their families, which were at the fairgrounds last year. He considered the program last year a “success” as seven veterans entered rehabilitation programs.

The organized event will actually begin next Monday, Oct. 15, when volunteers, such as the National Guard, will erect 40-by-20 foot tents for the Stand Down. Three rented vans and the “HOPE van” will travel from Redding to the City of Shasta Lake, back to Lake Boulevard to the Veteran’s Hall in Redding and to the fairgrounds starting on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Several other vans are bringing the veterans from the Corning, Chico and Paradise areas.

Boardman said that many of the homeless veterans suffer from “PTSD” (post traumatic stress disorder) or have ongoing emotional reactions to “extreme psychological trauma” and/or physical injuries.

The program, sponsored in part by grants from the Veteran’s Administration, American’s Helping Americans and the Calif. Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, tries to feed, provide clothing and medical and dental checkups for the veterans.

“The chef from the Redding Holiday Inn, ‘Sgt. Leedy,’ donated his time to cook meals last year and is doing it again this year in the field kitchen,” said Boardman.

He also said that one volunteer is giving up work for the week and another is missing 10 days so they can help their fellow veterans. He praised the work of VFW Post 9650 in Anderson, the Am-Vets and American Legion posts and “especially the auxiliaries of the VFW and American Legions.”

Around 125 of the homeless veterans will spend the night at the fairgrounds with the help of sleeping bags, blankets, mess kits, showers and three daily meals. Boardman said that the “non-homeless” are welcome to eat the meals with the homeless. A donation to cover the cost of those meals is requested.

Boardman said that whether one believes in helping the homeless or not, people “should remember that these men and women fought for their country and, in many cases, the condition that they are in today is a direct result of their experiences in war.” He emphasized that women who served in battle are part of a “hidden society,” some with service unique problems.

He also said that if anyone is interested in donating a winter coat, helping erect or dismantle the tents or would like to contribute money, they should contact Gloria Boston at 879-5017, Terry Milksel at 247-0710 or himself at 209-4678.