PORT TOWNSEND — More than 100 veterans of all ages visited the Port Townsend Elks Lodge on Monday, participating in a “stand down” meant to connect them with needed services they may not know are available.
“A lot of veterans are not aware of the resources that are available to them,” said Mark Buckler, a therapist with the Tacoma Vet Center who drives an RV to veterans’ gatherings.
“When they got out of the service, they were in a hurry and didn’t pay so much attention to what they needed and what is available to them.”
As of 1 p.m., 116 veterans had visited the stand down, which included medical, dental, materiel and psychological resources as well as the opportunity to acquire needed clothes and hygiene items.
Buckler, whose agency specializes in dealing with past sexual trauma and other psychological issues, said veterans may not know that help is available for something that happened long ago.
Buckler has met veterans who have acquired diabetes and don’t know why. It can be traced to the effects of Agent Orange, used in the Vietnam War.
In those cases, he said, “it’s good to see if Uncle Sam will pay the tab for a while.”
The stand down events are presented annually in Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Forks by Voices for Veterans, a Port Angeles-based volunteer organization.
“Our goal is for them to come in just a little bit better than how they came in,” said John Braasch, the organization’s president.
“This can be anything from solving a catastrophic health issue to providing housing.”
While some attendees have specific needs others are just looking for a personal connection, Braasch said. And the yearly events take on an aspect of a family reunion full of long lost cousins.
“A lot of this is about fellowship,” he said.
“People come here knowing it will be comfortable, friendly and safe.”
Braasch told of how two years ago, a woman veteran came to the stand down homeless, pregnant and unemployed.
She walked away with a place to live, a doctor’s appointment and a lead on a job.
“She left immensely better off than when she came in — although we couldn’t do anything about finding her a husband,” Braasch said.
New this year was a hearing specialist, a podiatrist and a company called Healing Waters that teaches veterans how to fly fish, connecting them with a device that allows them to tie flies one handed if they have a disability.
Company representative Chuck Tye said the program provides physical and mental support for veterans.
“It’s part of the recovery process,” Tye said of the program.
“You get out there. It’s nice and it’s peaceful, and you and your fellow vets just having a good time.”
Also present was Dove House, providing advice and outreach about protection from domestic violence, property crimes and identity theft.
“Veterans can often be crime victims and we want them to know these services are available and they are free,” said Teresa Bailey of Dove House.
“We can help them during the aftermath of a crime.”
Cheryl Bowers, representing New Leash on Life in Port Angeles, provides free pet food and services for the dogs and cats in a veteran’s care.
“We want to keep the pets with the vets and out of the local shelters,” Bowers said.
“A lot of times, a dog can be their only friend; a little dog is the only thing they have to hang on to.”
Bowers said the food she distributes is “donated freely” by local feed and pet stores.
The next Stand Down takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Clallam County Fairgrounds in Port Angeles.
For more information go to www.voicesforveterans.org.
_________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.