Event provides services to veterans
BUTLER TWP — “Stand down” is a military term describing a period of rest when service members could often get reprieve, medical attention and other necessary care while on active duty.
The Butler County Stand Down event, held Friday, has provided resources and more to veterans in the county for the past six Novembers in observance of Veterans Day.
Allyson Rose, community housing coordinator with Butler County Human Services, said veterans and community members look forward to the annual event each year, for both the resources available and the camaraderie.
“They're veterans, they have similar experience, they may be going through similar issues,” she said. “They can get together and access different resources, and everyone is always so excited to come.”
Rose said the Butler County Stand Down committee expects about 200 people each year, but she estimated the crowd at the Tanglewood Center this year exceeded 250 people.
While there were more than a dozen businesses and vendors present providing free services to veterans, Rose said connecting them with the ones they need is always the goal.
In addition to learning about community resources, veterans could get flu shots, haircuts, clothing and food at the event.
She said veteran homelessness is an ongoing problem, but one toward which Butler County has been vigilant.
“Veteran homelessness is definitely real,” Rose said. “I think Butler County has done a really great job of limiting the numbers, and not that we have ended veteran homelessness, but we have really done big efforts to identify homeless veterans and get them housed as quickly as possible.”
James Hinkson is a Navy veteran from Hermitage who now lives in Butler after relocating because he lost his home within the past year. He said it can be difficult for veterans to reintegrate into society after serving.
Hinkson said community events centered on veterans make it easy for them to find what they need.
“If you are ever in that situation, all this stuff comes in handy,” Hinkson said. “What they provide with contacts are very helpful.”
Veterans in Butler get substantial community support throughout the year. Two committee members of Butler County Stand Down, Roy Remone and Leroy Bunyan, said they get donations for the organization regularly.
Remone, a Navy veteran, said he owns a warehouse that takes donations for veterans, and he can't handle everything coming in.
“We have to be very selective or try to push it off for a month,” Remone said.
In addition to homelessness, Remone said mental health issues can plague veterans for years after they return from service.
“They don't want to go to the VA because they are afraid they will get marked with a mental health issue,” Remone said. “So, they will self-medicate and then end up there for drug addiction.”
Bunyan, also a Navy veteran, said military personnel can often relate to one another because they may think no one else knows what they are experiencing. He said events and organizations like Butler County Stand Down offer a more accessible and comfortable environment where veterans can communicate with one another.
“We bring organizations together from the community, so some of our veterans can see people in the committee instead of people from the VA,” Bunyan said. “Offer them health care, help them find housing, just give them someone to talk to with mental problems they are having or flashbacks they are getting, and (no paperwork) gets turned in.”
Rose said the event's committee works throughout the year to identify veterans who need help in the area. The result is that many don't stay homeless for long.
“It's not that veterans are not homeless in Butler,” Rose said, “but we quickly identify them and get them housing, so the length of time is very short that they are homeless.”
Butler County Stand Down can be reached at 724-284-5114.
