“Service to others is one of the most important actions that someone can do,” Tim “Chopper” McBride, International Falls city councilor, told a group of veterans Wednesday. “Now it is time for us to serve you.”
McBride was speaking during the opening of the local VFW’s StandDown, held in the Bob Walls Memorial Union Hall. The event was coordinated with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
The StandDown comes from a military history of giving soldiers a place of respite where they could relax, get food and shelter, take care of personal hygiene and see to any medical or dental needs, after being on duty.
To Koochiching County Commissioner Brian McBride, the term StandDown means telling veterans, “Welcome home, job well done.”
Many cities across the country host a version of a StandDown for their local veterans. This is the second year that International Falls has held such an event.
According to Terry Randolph, local VFW post commander, about 40 organizations were on hand Wednesday to offer information, assistance, and even some gifts.
“Every avenue of assistance is here,” Randolph said.
And by the looks of the provider tables, a lot of bases were covered with the StandDown. A stylist was on hand to do haircuts, clothing and blankets were available, and table after table of packets, posters, brochures and business cards were displayed on a wide range of topics from employment assistance to coping with post-traumatic stress.
“If we can help even one veteran, it’s a success,” commissioner McBride told the crowd gathered in the morning.
And, as Randolph told The Daily Journal, sometimes it takes a veteran to talk to a veteran, noting that, for some, the camaraderie with other veterans in the area was positive in itself.
The event started with the presentation of flags by the color guard, a welcome from Randolph, a prayer by VFW District Chaplain Wayne Sampson, Margaret Kostiuk singing the national anthem, and speeches from the brothers McBride.
After that, veterans were welcome to coffee, and had plenty of time to speak to the providers on hand before and after lunch.
