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ABOUT THE STAND DOWN
The original Stand Down for the homeless veterans was modeled after the Stand Down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat operations. At secure base camp areas, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment. Stand Down afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirit, health and overall sense of well-being.
Stand Down is an intervention that was conceived from the ground up specifically for veterans. It is designed to transform the despair and immobility of homeless into the momentum necessary to get into recovery, to resolve legal issues, to seek employment, to access health and benefits, to reconnect with the community and to get off the streets…A very tall order for a three-day event. Stand Down is a belief in the triumph of the human spirit over extraordinary odds. It grows out of a conviction that the overwhelming number of homeless veterans on the streets of America is unacceptable and that the veteran community itself must respond.
Each year the Yuba-Sutter Veterans Stand Down has grown, been refined to meet the needs of our veterans, homeless or not, all active duty personnel and their dependents. There are organizations / agencies and more than 2,800 and growing volunteers from all walks of life that make Stand Down happen. Some never set foot on the Stand Down field; others are there from the first day of set up until the site is returned to its original form. Perhaps the hallmark of success is that each year more and more of our volunteers were once participants who have made the courageous move to change their lives.
