STAND DOWN LIFTS UP VETS, ORGANIZERS.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist

LANCASTER - Veteran Dennis Joyner said he felt like he was on the right track after the second 2004 Antelope Valley Stand Down.

Joyner was one of the approximately 40 homeless veterans who took advantage of the services available at the event - named for the military term for giving troops a respite from combat to rest, recuperate and re-adjust - at Grace Resource Center.

``I talked to a lot of people here and they all had something to contribute to help with my problems. You can quote me on it. I really got help,'' Joyner said.

Every vet received new clothes, haircuts from The Cutting Edge Salon, and toiletry packets from the American Red Cross office of Antelope Valley.

Early arrivals got breakfast after the posting of the colors. George Palermo and Gerry Rice of the Vietnam veterans group Point Man of Antelope Valley raised the flag while all the vets stood at attention and saluted.

In past Stand Downs the Lancaster Rotary Club provided the food and volunteer servers for all of the day's three meals.

Most of the services provided during the prior Stand Downs were available for this one.

Zanya Biviano represented the Hoffman Hospice organization as a volunteer and assisted Ruth Marr, committee treasurer, and veteran Janice Walker, with the registration.

Manning the clothing counters and racks again this time were members of Acton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10606, including Arch Shifflett and Paul Turpin.

New among the service providers this time were representatives from Home Instead Senior Care and the Healing Rooms of Antelope Valley.

Home Instead brought along Max, a springer spaniel service and rescue dog, dressed in a coat emblazoned with the words ``Pet Me.''

The Healing Rooms offered prayer partners for veterans who wanted them and otherwise just provided people to talk over problems with.

For information on Home Instead call [phone] and on Healing Rooms call [phone].

Grace Resource Center Executive Director Steve Baker, the Stand Down committee chairman, said he felt the Sept. 18 event was more successful than the two prior Stand Downs.

``I think we've gained their (the homeless vets) trust now,'' he said. ``They were all so much more relaxed this time. I feel real good about it.''

The goal is to show the vets who live on the streets that society isn't all that bad and it's OK to get back into it.

``When we show them appreciation for all their wartime sacrifices and let them know that we'll help with their problems, we send a message. When we scratch beneath a resentful surface, we generally find solid citizens,'' Baker said.

``We don't want to change who they are. We want to change where they are,'' he added.

Organizers are seeking donations for the next Stand Down, which is tentatively set for early next year.

``We used about everything we had to purchase the new clothing items, such as underwear, shoes and pants,'' said Baker. ``We did that because we're moving into the winter months and they need to have decent clothes to weather the elements.''

For information or to make tax-deductible donations call [phone] or visit Grace Resource Center, 45134 Sierra Highway, Lancaster.