Active Duty Service Members Help San Diego-Area Veterans During Stand Down 2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) James R. Evans, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Dozens of San Diego's homeless veterans got a helping hand from active duty service members July 16-18 during the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) Stand Down 2010.

Stand Down is an annual three-day event in which homeless veterans and their families can receive free services including health care, substance abuse counseling, legal and employment assistance and food and clothing distribution.

As in years past, the event was held in a tent city erected by active duty military volunteers on San Diego High School's athletic field.

"One of the main goals of Stand Down is to take care of some of the physical needs of the veterans who are homeless because it's very difficult being on the street," said Dr. Jon Nachison, Stand Down's director.

"There are a lot of medical issues, and we want to be able to take care of those people, give them some clothing and fill their bellies. I also want to have an effect on people's spirit, and I think of Stand Down as kind of like boot camp for the spirit," said Nachison.

Nachison said that by providing such basic services and a sense of community, Stand Down gives homeless veterans the tools they need to begin the process of getting off the streets.

He estimated that by the end of the weekend, close to 3,000 volunteers will have donated their time to helping up to 1,000 homeless veterans accomplish that goal. Many of those volunteers are active duty service members from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

"The active duty participation is invaluable," said Nachison. "Everything you see here was set up by active duty, mostly Marines and Seabees who helped set up the tents."

For those Sailors and Marines who volunteer, Nachison said Stand Down can be a learning experience.

"If you look across the America, one third of our homeless are military veterans," said Nachison. "As a person on active duty, you think, 'I'm going to get out and everything is going to be fine, but you don't know that. Coming here can be like a wake-up call. We all have to take care of each other."

Among the camouflage netting and olive green tents, Sailors and Marines in uniform could be seen providing security, conducting health screenings and assisting with legal documents for veterans in the homeless and family court areas.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ian Polage, assigned to Navy Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), was one of several Sailors working in NMCSD's health clinic performing triage and doing initial health screenings for sick call. Polage said he volunteered because he would want someone to do the same for him.

"I want someone to take care of me when I'm old if I need this kind of help. These people served their country, so this is the least we can do," said Polage.

One of the patients he treated was Edward Patterson, a Marine Corps veteran.

"This is really good from the point of view of people in the streets," said Patterson. "The vets are getting care from the new kids, and I think it's much needed. It's a good time for us to come in off the streets."