STAND DOWN BETTER THAN EVER.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley Veterans Stand Down committee members said their event Saturday was the best one to date.

Approximately 45 veterans registered for the day, which offered activities, services, entertainment and just plain camaraderie aimed at helping homeless veterans get reintegrated into society.

Gale Knight, wife of the late state Sen. William J. ``Pete'' Knight, spent most of the day making the rounds and visiting with the veterans.

``Her appearance was impressive,'' said Tom Craft, a Stand Down organizer and retired U.S. Navy captain. ``She lights up the room when she enters and she was so gracious. She made them all feel that she really cares about their welfare.''

Among the veterans who participated in the event at Grace Resource Center was 84-year-old Peter Lucky, an Army technical sergeant during World War II. He came to Lancaster 50 years ago and did flight line instrumentation work for Lockheed, mostly on the Cheyenne project and the SR-71.

Another veteran came to the United States from Hungary and volunteered for the U.S. military.

One of the volunteers asked why he had emigrated and he replied that he had to leave Hungary because he had killed a KGB officer. No further questions were asked.

``The weather has been so iffy lately,'' said co-chairman George Palermo, ``that we made all our plans for indoors and it worked out even better than we hoped. It was a more intimate and homey atmosphere with a lot of one-on-one discussions and experience-sharing. Our volunteers liked it a lot better, too.''

``Stand down'' is the military term for giving military personnel a respite from combat. The Antelope Valley Stand Downs, which started in 2003, provide counseling, legal advice, meals, clothing and other help.

``This is the fourth Stand Down we've had now,'' said Craft, ``and we learn more every time we do it. This one seemed to spawn more actual fellowship than the others. The vets who came were more at ease with us. I think they finally felt they could trust us.''

The first Stand Down was a three-day weekend event on the grounds of Antelope Valley College.

``We kind of flew by the seat of our pants and we pulled it off but we felt we could do better if we didn't spread ourselves quite so thin. That's when we decided we'd try a condensed version, a one-day event that would provide all the services the vets need without confining them for three days,'' said Steve Baker, Grace Resource Center executive and committee chairman.

The food service indoors by the Lancaster Rotary Club was also deemed more successful this time, according to Palermo.

All of the services provided at the past Stand Downs were available again this time, including eye exams in the Lions Club Eyemobile and haircuts.

Red Cross toiletry bags were given out as were clothing items such as underwear, socks and warm knit headgear.

Live music was provided most of the afternoon by the six-piece Baby Boomers Band.

This column disseminates news of interest to seniors of all ages. Bettie Rencoret may be contacted at 661-943-2998, or messages may be left at the Antelope Valley Bureau Daily News offices, [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Gale Knight joins volunteer Chuck Engram at the veterans Stand Down, above, while World War II vet Peter Lucky, 84, gets a pat from Vicki Edmond of the American Legion.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News