Airmen offer stand down for homeless veterans

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Angelique Smythe
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. (AFPN) --  Few people can forget there are thousands of Americans fighting in war zones to preserve America’s freedom; but are those who fought for this country decades ago and are now homeless still remembered?

McConnell Airmen joined with people from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the nearby Wichita community Oct. 22 to offer the homeless veterans a chance to stand down.

“During the Vietnam War, stand down was when forward combat troops were allowed to go back to safe areas where they would get a shower, clean clothes, a warm meal and be able to stand down, or relax, from combat,” said Dave Desmond, homeless veteran outreach coordinator. “We’re trying to provide a safe place for the homeless and give them a hand up, or a lift up, and not a handout.”

This is the third year McConnell officials provided tables, volunteers, tents and food, said Judy Epperson, homeless veteran health-care coordinator.

Even before the doors opened at 9 a.m., people were waiting for clothes, shoes, military uniforms and sleeping bags at the disabled American veterans center in Wichita.

About 200 people showed up, and even though it started to rain, people were still coming. The food stand, barber, medical care and information desks inside the building remained open until 4 p.m. The guests were treated to pizza, a haircut, flu shots and Department of Veterans Affairs services.

“They are in a war zone when they’re out there, and we want to give them a meal and medical care because they are at risk,” Ms. Epperson said.

Many volunteers said the stand down was a great outreach to let the homeless veterans know they are still cared about.

“This is a payback for the veterans,” said Adam Bonner, a 12-year-old volunteer who is the son of Master Sgt. Walter Bonner of the 22nd Mission Support Squadron here. “It’s nice helping them out.”

And the veterans appreciated the help they received, officials said.

“The things we get here we need, especially the coats and sleeping bags,” one veteran said. “They come in very handy.”