CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Respect for the sacrifice and service provided to this country by veterans was on display at the American Legion Hall Post No. 437 in Clearlake on Wednesday, as Lake County's inaugural “Stand Down” event got under way.
The second, and final day of the United Veterans Council's event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
All veterans are invited and encouraged to attend to gain connection with a myriad of resources, made accessible especially for them, in one inclusive location.
More than 60 veterans seeking information about the available services were welcomed to the event before noon on day one, demonstrating what Lake County UVC President Frank Parker said was a clear need for increased accessibility to veteran services.
“The turnout is great for a first-time event. I'm impressed with the amount of providers here and the response from the veteran community,” Parker said. “We have agencies volunteering as far north to Fort Bragg, Mendocino County and south to Sonoma County. We will turn no veteran away and we encourage them to bring their spouses.”
The Stand Down event hearkens to a time in war when combat units, exhausted in battle, are granted a reprieve for rest and recovery, a time for removal from the battlefields to a place of relative security and safety.
“This is about connecting veterans with the services they need,” Jim Yates, veteran volunteer of American Legion Post No. 437, said. “The major theme for today is what we do in the 'Vet Connect' every day.”
The Stand Down event takes the Vet Connect program in Lake County to a new level as it strives to increase access to services to veterans throughout the region.
It unites a variety of organizations and services providers, including on-site health care practitioners, in an collaborative effort to serve those who have served and sacrificed for this country.
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock, a Vietnam veteran, also was on hand to welcome fellow veterans to the event Wednesday.
“Yes, I am a supervisor for District 1, but that is nothing. First and foremost I am a veteran and I want to thank everyone for being here and the veterans for their service,” Comstock said.
Comstock spoke of the time when he joined the service. He went on to recognize the abundance of homeless veterans in the area, which was a concern emphasized throughout the event Wednesday.
“There are a lot of veterans who are homeless in this county,” he said. “They deserve to be recognized and taken care of, and that's why all of you providers are here.”
The event includes the participation of more than 40 service providing agencies, with representatives offering information regarding Social Security benefits, housing needs, nutrition, mental health services, education, employment and more.
Mobile health and dental care teams are on site, providing a variety of services from dental care to general practitioner services.
Physician Assistant Brad Greaves said the Sutter Health Mobile Healthcare unit is equipped to provide services just as any visit to doctor's office, including electronic medical records capabilities. The unit is wheelchair accessible as well.
“There are so many good things going on here today,” District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said. “It's so good to get all these services here in a one-stop sort of event.”
The two-day Stand Down event continues, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, at the American Legion Post Hall No. 437, 14770 Austin Road in Clearlake.
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