This Thursday is Veterans Day, a federal holiday that is annually celebrated Nov. 11 by honoring military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Butler County got a jump start on the holiday this past week with two great events that not only honored veterans in the region, but also provided a variety of resources.

On Wednesday, state Rep. Marci Mustello hosted a veterans luncheon at the American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora that drew a large crowd of veterans and their guests.

The event included a presentation of the flag, a performance by the Butler High School Choir and a lunch for attendees. Veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were honored.

Although the event was a nice opportunity to pay homage to those who have served, Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo was correct in calling for attendees to “make sure vets are remembered every day for their service and sacrifice.”

Then, on Friday, the sixth annual Butler County Stand Down was held at Lyndora’s Tanglewood Senior Center. That event provided veterans with a variety of free resources, from haircuts and food to flu shots.

While a priority of the event was providing services for veterans who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless, resources were also available for any veteran who had served.

We’re glad to see this event taking place again in the county.

You can find numerous statistics to show why such resources are, in some instances, vital.

According to a study conducted by the Military Times prior to COVID-19, 21 out of every 10,000 veterans in the United States experienced homelessness in early 2020.

Veterans make up about 6% of the population of the United States, but about 8% of the country’s homeless population.

And these statistics were compiled prior to the pandemic, which has caused widespread loss of jobs and services, such as availability at shelters.

A study four years ago by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that women veterans were the fastest growing demographic among the U.S. homeless population.

So any events to provide services and assistance to county veterans who are struggling are a great community resource.

It’s great to see that organizations around the county are providing services for and paying tribute to veterans. Even after Veterans Day has passed, we hope that such events will continue to be prevalent.

— NCD