North Idaho Veterans Stand Down Saturday

COEUR d'ALENE — Veterans and their families will be the guests of honor during the North Idaho Veterans Stand Down on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Idaho College's Christianson Gymnasium.

The annual event assists veterans and their families with clothing, haircuts, bike repairs, medical and veterinary care, dental and legal services, breakfast, lunch, counseling and food assistance.

"I call this event a veteran's one-stop because all the service providers are in one location," said Kecia Siegel, veterans coordinator at NIC who is assisting with event organized by St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho.

"It's for all veterans and their families. This is a way of thanking them for their service."

Attendees must present a military or Veterans Affairs identification or DD214. The event is open to vets and their families from the five northern counties of Idaho.

The location is new this year as the event was previously held at the North Idaho Fairgrounds.

There will be military surplus items available for homeless veterans. Eleven employers with job openings will also be available.

The original Stand Down for Veterans was modeled after the Stand Down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat.

Today, Stand Down refers to a community-based intervention program to assist all veterans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with information and services.

For information, call Eric Swanbeck, veterans services coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul, at 208-664-3095 or eric@stvincentdepaulcda.org.