A Stand Down For Homeless And At Risk Veterans
A Stand Down for homeless and other at risk veterans will be held today, from 8 AM through 3 PM at the Tuolumne Veterans Memorial Hall in Tuolumne City.
Debbie Esque, Operation Stand Down volunteer, was Friday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”.
A Stand Down is an event where homeless and other at risk veterans can come to a safe place and receive help.
The term Stand Down was widely used in Vietnam to describe bringing a combat unit in from the field and ‘stand down’ from combat operations for a period of seven to fourteen days.
During that time the unit would be on light duty, tend to minor wounds, re-equip and train new personnel. The soldiers would also have an opportunity to get hot food, showers and perhaps some cold drinks.
The idea was to rejuvenate body and mind before returning to combat operations in the field.
Now the term is used to provide a place where veterans can come and access everything the VA has to offer them as honorably discharged US military veterans.
The VA will have services on hand to assist the veterans. Through various organizations, there will be meals, coats, sleeping bags and blankets.
The most popular attraction at the event may be the access to free dental care. Three volunteer dentists will be on hand. Homeless veterans will have first priority on dental care.
According to the VA, there are 10,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are homeless.
Today is Veterans Day (Observed) and tomorrow (Saturday) is the actual Veterans Day.
The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard each weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
