ANOTHER STAND DOWN ASSISTS A.V. VETERANS.Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist LANCASTER - Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley veterans turned out June 25 for the second Stand Down of 2005 at Grace Resource Center. The event offered health screenings, legal counseling and help for the homeless and other veterans, like previous Stand Downs, plus something else: the easy, relaxed attitudes among both vets and the volunteers. ``It all seems more like a real welcome-home party this time,'' said one Vietnam veteran This article is about veterans of the Vietnam War. For the French psychedelic musical group, see Vietnam Veterans. Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War. . ``I didn't get quite the same feeling at the other Stand Downs. Everybody seemed a little more anxious and uptight. Today the people who are here to help seem like old friends.'' Stand Down is the military term for a period of rest and recuperation The withdrawal of individuals from combat or duty in a combat area for short periods of rest and recuperation. Also called R&R. See also rehabilitation. , in a safe and secure environment, for battle-weary troops. The events to offer a hand to homeless veterans started in 2003 in the Antelope Valley, hosted by veterans groups and other organizations and individuals. ``Once again all our service providers were superb,'' said Tom Craft, a retired Navy officer and co-organizer. ``They all came when they said they would and did what they said they would do. We can't thank them enough. We're fortunate to have such caring professional people in this valley.'' Forty veterans registered for the day's activities, about the same as at the January event. ``We count the day a success,'' said Steve Baker Steve Baker (born September 8, 1978 in Pontefract, West Yorkshire) is an English professional footballer who is a defender and currently plays for Gateshead. Baker has played for a number of clubs including Middlesbrough, Huddersfield Town, Darlington, Hartlepool and , executive director of Grace Resources, a nonprofit Lancaster food bank. ``We count it a success if we help any number at all,'' added George Palermo, coordinator of the Vietnam veterans organization Point Man of Antelope Valley. ``We're veterans ourselves so we know most of these vets, male and female both, have issues to deal with in their lives that nonveterans don't have. ``Our aim is to help them get those issues resolved.'' Said Baker: ``The motto of all our Stand Downs is a hand up, not a handout. We think this is just the tip of the iceberg tip of the iceberg n. pl. tips of the iceberg A small evident part or aspect of something largely hidden: afraid that these few reported cases of the disease might only be the tip of the iceberg. of what we ought to do for these people. After all, they risked everything for us.'' LANCASTER - No meals will be served July 18 through July 22 at Antelope Valley Life Nutrition sites for seniors. New kitchen equipment is being installed that week at the Antelope Valley Senior Center, where the meals are prepared. ``When we resume the lunches, July 25, it will be with upgraded and more service-friendly implements. We know that's going to make things a lot easier for our hard-working cooks,'' said Harriett Davis, executive director of the Antelope Valley Committee on Aging. ``That should benefit all of our seniors.'' Senior centers in Lancaster and Palmdale will be open from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. that week as usual, she said. Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread and margarine and coffee, tea or milk for a suggested donation of $2. Monday: HOLIDAY. Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatballs Noun 1. spaghetti and meatballs - spaghetti with meatballs in a tomato sauce dish - a particular item of prepared food; "she prepared a special dish for dinner" , mixed vegetables, garden salad, apple juice, ice cream. Wednesday: Sweet and sour sweet and sour adj → agridulce chicken, wild rice, green beans, carrot salad, orange juice, gelatin gelatin or animal jelly, foodstuff obtained from connective tissue (found in hoofs, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) of vertebrate animals by the action of boiling water or dilute acid. with pears. Thursday: Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, winter squash, tossed salad, cheesecake. Friday: Fish fillet fillet /fil·let/ (fil´et) 1. a loop, as of cord or tape, for making traction on the fetus. 2. in the nervous system, a long band of nerve fibers. fil·let n. 1. or barbecued pork, chicken rice soup, scalloped scal·lop also scol·lop or es·cal·lop n. 1. a. Any of various free-swimming marine mollusks of the family Pectinidae, having fan-shaped bivalve shells with a radiating fluted pattern. b. potatoes, corn, marinated salad, citrus cup. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Vietnam vet Wayne Wood attends the event, which takes its name from the term for a period of rest and recuperation. Eddie Roboto, a Gulf War veteran, takes part in the event at Grace Resource Center, the second this year. Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion