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Stand Down offers hope for vets Event caters to needs of homeless By PAUL FATTIG WHITE CITY -- Giant olive-drab mushrooms in the form of military tents are about to pop up on the baseball diamond at the Department of Veterans Affairs Domiciliary. Stand Down '99 begins Sept. 24. The three-day annual event organized by volunteers to help homeless veterans in Southern Oregon and Northern California will offer the veterans food, clothing, medical attention, legal help, shelter, jobs and counseling. "Stand down" is military jargon for a respite from a hostile environment. Held yearly since 1992, the local Stand Down is the only one in Oregon this year. About 630 down-and-out veterans attended the session last year, according to Mark Brown, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War and one of the organizers. This year, the volunteer legal team headed by Medford Municipal Court Judge Bill Haberlach will be joined by a retired judge from California. "That means we'll be able to process some of the legal needs for veterans from Northern California this year," Brown said, noting that was not the case in past events. Thus far, more than 3,000 homeless veterans have found a respite at the Stand Down, according to organizers. Although many of the homeless veterans served their country during the Vietnam era, the event also draws veterans from World War II to the Gulf War. The primary focus is on homeless veterans because they are the ones who generally are unable to take advantage of veterans' benefits, organizers said. Volunteer Ed Mazza, who is coordinating transportation for many homeless veterans, has arranged for van pickups in Portland, Eugene, Roseburg, Brookings and Crescent City. The Oregon Army National Guard is donating the tents while the domiciliary is donating the space for the tent city. However, the volunteer group that organizes the event incurs expenses for transportation, communications, food, clothing, supplies and other necessities required to help the veterans. It costs about $13,000 for the event, all of which is raised through donations, Brown said. Those wishing to help financially can donate by contributing to any branch of U.S. Bank of Oregon, where a fund for the Stand Down has been established. Checks should be made out to Southern Oregon Stand Down. Anyone wishing to volunteer or contribute goods or services should contact Madeleine Fabris at 899-1935. "We'd like to say we want to put ourselves out of business, but we don't know how long our Stand Down will continue," Brown said, adding that it will continue until the need is no longer there. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA