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A Safe Place By Greg Stiles Sep 16, 2007 12:00 AM A A WHITE CITY — Mark Setta knows the sense of extreme hopelessness that accompanies addiction; he was there in the mid-1990s. After a stay at what was then known as the Veterans Affairs Domiciliary, the former Sacramento resident turned the corner and overcame meth. Today, the 52-year-old works at Lamination Technology Industries on Avenue C and has turned his life around. On Saturday, Setta returned to his personal Rubicon and joined scores of other veterans partaking in the 16th annual Stand Down at Veterans Memorial Stadium. "I was homeless and a meth addict," Setta said. "They gave me a chance to clean up and put it all back together." Setta dropped by to see if some old acquaintances were around and to see if he could iron out a legal matter, stemming from a traffic ticket. En route to the legal booth, he stopped by one of the dozens of tents where vets could find eyeglasses offered by the Lions Club. "They were just reading glasses," he said. "I got a pair at home, but they're pretty gaffed up." The Stand Down draws vets from along the Interstate 5 corridor, offering everything from haircuts and clothes to tax help and spiritual advice. "If it helps just one guy stop drinking and using drugs, it's worth it," Setta said. "When I see someone, I say go to the Dom, but a lot of them want to keep on doing what they been doing." Spokesman Bill Reichard said about 350 vets were expected during the event that continues through today. Besides medical and legal help, food and other services, the vets, many of whom are homeless, are offered a safe place to sleep. But when temperatures dove Friday night, some of the participants got too cold for comfort. "The truck with sleeping bags and blankets hasn't got here yet," said Paul Mill, a security volunteer from Jacksonville. "When you're coming from New Jersey, there are a lot of ways to get lost. I lent a comforter to someone who needed it and I haven't seen him again; I'm still looking." Roy Hammond, a 49-year-old former Marine from Portland, rode on a bus with more than 30 vets. "I thought this would be something to do to get away from the grind of downtown and get away from the city," said Hammond as he waited his turn for a haircut. Hammond served in 1975 and 1976 in the San Diego area then returned to the Willamette Valley. He worked in canneries in the Salem area before going to Portland. "It was freezing cold here last night," Hammond said. "But there was a nice little country band playing and we were throwing a football around." Artist Will Storm has made a practice of attending the Stand Down the past four years. He sketches and paints scenes from the event with pens, ink, acrylic and oils, capturing a slice of life that often goes unnoticed. "These veterans tend to be faceless and nameless," Storm said. "This is the other side of the conflict." While he's in plain sight, he's unseen by most of the vets as they go about their business. "It's best to be peripheral to what they're doing," Storm said. "I stay out of the way, but in view. If they aren't aware of me, it's easier for them to do their work and me to do my work; it's not in your face." He said a person's perspective on military matters isn't a concern. "The men and women here were the point of lances or held the shaft," Storm said. "They're forgotten as soon as the conflict is over. It's kind of like praying when things go wrong, you do a lot of praying and after it's over you forget." He turns his work and his journals over to coordinator Kathy Patterson, who uses the art for other projects. "If I can contribute to improved understanding, using art as a viewpoint," Storm said. "I've done my job." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or at [email protected] Nancy Dennison gets her hair cut by Emily Cullen, a volunteer from the Oregon Institute of Cosmetology, during the 16th annual Southern Oregon Stand Down for veterans in need Saturday. The event continues in White City today. Mail Tribune Photo / Jamie Lusch - Jamie Lusch