CARIBOU, Maine — Aroostook County veterans received an overwhelming amount of assistance and compassion on Saturday, Nov. 4, during the region’s first annual Stand Down event at Cary Medical Center in Caribou.
Previously, Stand Down had only been held at the Togus Veterans Administration facility in Augusta, but the hard work of numerous County organizations has brought it to central Aroostook County, where it will become a yearly event.
The name “Stand Down” comes from the Vietnam War, and refers to a safe-haven for soldiers. Inspired by this concept, an annual Stand Down event was started about 20 years ago at Togus to provide free services to homeless veterans, including food, boots, clothing, personal care items, employment and training opportunities, information about available benefits, healthcare services and legal services.
United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau pitched the idea earlier this year to hold such an event in The County, but said the credit should all go to the organizations that stepped up and made it happen.
“This was a County collaboration,” DeVeau said, specifically thanking ACAP President Jason Parent, Pines Health Services Communications Specialist Casey Bouchard, and VA Community Care Coordinator Katie Michaud.
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- Representatives from 17 organizations set up booths in Cary Medical’s Chan Center for The County’s first annual Stand Down event, which provides veterans with numerous free services. Many deemed the Nov. 4 event to be a success, and are excited to hold another Stand Down next year. (Christopher Bouchard)
“They have done an outstanding job getting everything to this point,” DeVeau said. “I can’t take the credit; I just pitched some ideas and they ran with it.”
DeVeau said he is “very proud” that The County came together for another big project, adding that “as long as I have a voice in veteran’s issues up here” the Stand Down event will take place every year.
Bouchard said that holding the event in Caribou allowed veterans to receive the services they needed closer to home rather than have to travel or be transported to Togus in Augusta.
“There is a definite need in The County for these types of services,” Bouchard said, “which is why we decided to host a Stand Down here.”
She added that there were 17 representatives from colleges, community organizations, and businesses on hand Saturday ready to help veterans in any way they could.
“It’s been incredible,” Bouchard said roughly one hour into the event. “So far, we’ve had people come through and receive the services they need. Hopefully this is something we can continue for years to come.”
After the event, Bouchard said roughly 20 veterans received assistance on Saturday.
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- Members of the Pines Health Services dental team gave free exams to veterans in need during Aroostook County’s first annual Stand Down event held at Cary Medical Center in Caribou on Nov. 4. Offering there help are, from left, David Levasseur, Karen Edgecomb, Lucy Morin, and Patty Erickson. (Christopher Bouchard)
Michaud said organizing the local gathering was not incredibly stressful, especially with “such great communication with Pines Health and all the other agencies involved.”
“We met bi-weekly, got all the information, collaborated together, and everything worked very well,” Michaud said.
Stand Down coordinators also provided free transportation via shuttle to any veteran wanting to attend.
“We had one veteran come from Houlton on the shuttle who was truly homeless,” Michaud said. “He had a really great time, and was very happy, which was apparent by the smile on his face.”
Cary Medical Center CEO Kris Doody said much of the motivation behind Stand Down is to provide information to help veterans in need.
“There are a number of different services here today,” Doody said. “Our goal is to inform veterans about what is available and provide information. There are a number of healthcare providers here, from physicians, dentists, optometrists, and podiatrists.”
Veterans who were homeless or close to losing their homes also were able to receive free items donated by hospital staff, local organizations, and the Red Cross.
Kim Rohn of the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Board helped gather the items, which consisted of mops, brooms, buckets, shower curtains, towels, garbage cans, flashlights, batteries, dish racks, air mattresses, dishes, silverware, pots, pans, coffee makers, and toaster ovens.
Roughly $6,000 in items were donated for Aroostook County’s first annual Stand Down event. Homeless veterans, or those at risk of becoming homeless, could take any items they needed, free of charge, during the Nov. 4 event at Cary Medical Center. (Christopher Bouchard)
“We probably have about $6,000 worth of items collected,” Rohn said, adding that she is the only member of the board north of Bangor and that this was her first time collecting items for such an event.
“Karen St. Peter of United Veterans of Maine has been especially helpful in forming the items into kits,” Rohn said. “People from all over Aroostook County have been dropping things off for us.”
Bill Flagg, community relations director for Cary Medical Center, said that many of the veterans who came in were completely taken aback by the generosity offered to them.
Flagg said that he saw veterans eyes get big when they walked down the hall leading to the Chan Center and saw all of the donated items.
“One question a couple veterans asked was, ‘Why would you do all this for me?’” Flagg said. “We kept communicating that it’s because we appreciate their service, and I think there’s a new consideration of veterans today that offers them a lot of respect.”
When some veterans asked who the donated items were for, Flagg said, “We’d tell them it was for them, and they were so humble. They normally don’t come out and ask for much and, at least for one day, there was a lot made available to them.”
Many of the service providers involved said the event was a success, and they are ready to hold another Stand Down in The County next year.
“My motto was that if we could help one veteran today, then I would believe it was a success,” Michaud said. “I believe we’ve helped many more than that.”
Flagg said that organizers learned a great deal from The County’s first Stand Down, and that next year’s event will offer a broader scope of services.
“Stand Down is generally intended to assist homeless veterans,” Flagg said, “but we want to broaden the scope of the event a little more and provide for veterans who are struggling in any way, whether they’re near homelessness or in financial need.”
“We want to keep them safe and warm and pay them back for the sacrifice they made for their country,” Flagg added. “They deserve it, and they shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of it.”
