Departments

Operation Standdown

On November 19, 2004 Operation Stand Down began their twelfth annual three-day event for veterans who are homeless. With a coalition of over one hundred organizations participating and nearly 500 volunteers, the outreach program was held this year at the National Guard Armory on Sidco Drive in Nashville, Tennessee.

This year 282 veterans had the opportunity to go through a legal review and receive free legal advice, a full medical examination, including physical, dental, eye and podiatry, eat warm meals to their heart’s content, have a safe place to sleep for three days, get haircuts and picture identification, watch movies around the clock, receive information from many service agencies in Nashville, and share fellowship and support from other veterans in their situation.

Many UAW Local Unions participated in the program, including Local 1832 which represents Peterbilt Motors in Madison, Tennessee. Their Veterans Committee and Women’s committee spearheaded a donation drive for new underwear, t-shirts, and white socks. Over 300 packages and $500 was donated to Operation Stand Down this year alone.

Local 737, which represents Visteon in Nashville, Tennessee, donated the chicken for the noon meal and also turned out in numbers to serve it. Ed Jackson and Donnie Sheppard, veterans from Local 737, were very much appreciated for all their help. Locals 1577 and 1853 provided volunteers for the event, donations, and much support. Special thanks are being sent out to Mark Peterson, Region 8 Veterans Council Chairman, and his wife, Dave Knox from Dover, Delaware, Gene Barnes from Tipton, Georgia, and all who traveled long distances to find out what they could do in their areas for veterans.

Operation Stand Down is a full-time agency which provides the same services for honorably discharged veterans on a daily basis from their service center at 12th and Edgehill. The phone number is 615-321-3919 and their website is http://www.osdnashville.org.


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