Stand Down aims to help vets

ARLEE — Veterans and their family members were given the chance to ask questions and connect with the national, state and local organizations at the Arlee Powwow Grounds last Friday and Saturday.

The Veterans Warrior Society and the Department of Veterans Affairs joined forces to organize a Veterans Stand Down. VA staff and veteran service providers were on hand, offering services and assistance to veterans, many of whom were unaware they qualified for health benefits.

“There are a lot of veterans that aren’t in the VA system and they don’t know what their benefits can be,” minority vet program coordinator Buck Richardson said. “We try to provide them with medical services, give them surplus gear and clothing, check their benefits and networking.”

On top of all that, veterans can have a free meal, with no shortage of conversation either.

“We try to help educate veterans about all of the different offices the VA has here,” Richardson said.

The program is geared toward homeless veterans, of which 41,000 have been helped this year. The term itself comes straight from combat, Richardson said, meaning to “go to the rear to refuel, regroup and refresh.”

While there are several stand downs in Western Montana, this is the first full-scale effort to come to the Flathead Indian Reservation.

“We’ve done a few smaller ones in Arlee and one in Elmo,” Richardson said. “But this is something we hope to continue here.”

Roughly 50 volunteers bared the rainy, cold day Friday, helping to spread warmth to several hundred veterans.

“There are people coming up who I think these things are really helping,” volunteer veteran Janell Underwood said.