Stand Down treats veterans to services, more
Ron Wallace was discharged from the military Oct. 11. Now, he's homeless, living in the woods in Butler.
“Western P.A. is beating me up but it's better than the Middle East,” said the 36-year-old as he looked up at the overcast sky. “At least I'm not getting bullets thrown at me.”
Wallace was among veterans Friday lined up at the entrance of Tanglewood Center for the third annual Stand Down charity event that offers services, clothing and food.
“It's just the basic stuff that you need to survive,” said James Caldwell of Butler, a volunteer with VA Butler Healthcare veterans services. Caldwell offered goods splayed out on a table just outside the entrance.
Inside, about 150 people, most of whom were veterans, received lunch, haircuts, clothing, shoes, medical screenings, entertainment and more, according to Allyson Rose, who works with Butler County Human Services to host the event. Around 50 groups were set up, ready to help anyone with a host of problems associated with homelessness.
“We're overwhelmed with people,” Rose said, noting that this was the highest turnout they had in the three years of operation. Rose was pleased with the attendance but for some veterans — like Wallace — the noise and crowd can be uncomfortable.
Speaking outside the center, after getting an array of goods, he said he was still getting used to life stateside after joining the Air Force in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
He's served in the 111th Airborne division with two tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan, one in Syria, one in Poland and one in Okinawa. He returned Oct. 11 from his most recent tour in Syria.
His shoes and the rest of his clothing were soaked after the steady rain but now he has a fresh pair of yellow boots and camping backpack to carry all of the items he received.
Read more in the Butler Eagle
