Giving a little back
CHRIS CHAFFEE/Special to The Press Homeless veteran Mark Gajda of Sandpoint is assisted by Denny McMonigle of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 in receiving free clothing and other Department of Defense surplus items.
CHRIS CHAFFEE/Special to The Press Robert Darakja of Coeur d’Alene, an Air Force veteran, gets a trim by Candace Weiss of Azure Salon in Hayden during the North Idaho Veterans Stand Down at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
CHRIS CHAFFEE/Special to The Press Members of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office thank homeless Air Force veteran Jim Gavras for his service Saturday during the annual North Idaho Veterans Stand Down at the fairgrounds.
COEUR d’ALENE — Wearing his black and yellow Army jacket, 35-year-old veteran Karl Llewellyn wandered through the North Idaho Veterans Stand Down.
“I love it. I’ve talked to a bunch of guys from Vietnam up to my era," he said. "I even talked to one Korean veteran."
Llewellyn, of Post Falls, served from 2004-07. This was his second time going to the Stand Down, which took place Saturday in the Jacklin Building and the southern lawn of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
"I think it's a positive thing," he said. "There's any number of resources in the building that are useful for veterans, possible job training or whatnot for others, like some of the homeless veterans. There's surplus they hand out to help them out. And it's nice to see all the people coming out to support veterans."
By 9 a.m., just one hour after the Stand Down opened its doors, Stand Down coordinator Eric Swanbeck estimated at least 700 veterans had come through the door, with hundreds more yet to arrive.
"We’ve really put a lot of time and effort into marketing a day of appreciation for all veterans. We added the air soft (gun target practice) and the food and the ice cream," he said. "With all these things, we’re trying to attract all younger veterans who say, ‘Nah, I’m not going.’ We’ve put a huge effort into it and it seems like it’s paying off."
This was the 24th year for the North Idaho Veterans Stand Down. For those in the military, to "stand down" means a cease fire, a time to relax and regroup. This annual event gives veterans of all ages, abilities and walks of life from across the region an opportunity to receive free services, including haircuts and dental exams, and assistance where they might be struggling. Military surplus is given to veterans who are homeless.
This year's event featured 50 service providers and 15 employers as well as a tasty pancake breakfast and equine therapy.
"Living here, there are so many resources for veterans and the homeless," said Kassidy Jones of Post Falls, who volunteered at the event through St. Vincent de Paul. "I think it's amazing these people are here and we're here to help them when they helped us."