On Friday, Sept. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) and Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc. will co-host Stand Down 2004 at the National Guard Armory, Grove Street & Park Boulevard in Cherry Hill.

      According to Department representatives, Stand Down is designed to provide homeless veterans and their family members with access to healthcare, medical screening, counseling on veterans benefits, substance abuse counseling, legal and employment services, social services, vocational rehabilitation services, religious counseling, a hot meal, a haircut, and winter clothing.  The goal of the program is to bring a wide range of resources together in one location so the veteran can access the various available services and be able to recognize that the community is concerned and committed to bring these services to them.

      According to official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, in 2003 there were more than 313,000 veterans estimated to be homeless.  Approximately one-third of the homeless population in the United States served in the Armed Forces.  Current estimates are that there are more than 8,300 homeless veterans in New Jersey.

      This is the fourth year Stand Down has been held at the Cherry Hill Armory.   Prior to 2000, Stand Downs were held at Fort Dix and Naval Weapon Station Lakehurst.   Last year, approximately 137 homeless veterans and family members attended the event in Cherry Hill.

      “Stand Down” derives its name from the military term referring to the temporary removal of exhausted combat troops from the battlefield to a safe place, behind the lines, for rest and recovery.  Stand Down's are grass roots, community-based intervention programs to help homeless veterans survive life on the streets.  The program's philosophy is to give homeless veterans a ‘hand up … not a hand out'.                                                    

      The organizations supporting Stand Down 2004 are DMAVA, Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc., the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The Retired Officers Association, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Marine Corps League, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Veterans of Foreign War, Gold Star Wives, Jewish War Veterans, Burlington County Veterans Services Office, Camden County Veterans Services Office, Camden County Board of Social Services, Community Services of Camden County, U.S. Department of Labor, AIDS Coalition of South Jersey, Project Hope, Elks, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Regional Office-Philadelphia, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Health Assessment Team and the Fort Dix Post Chaplains.  A donation for the event was also received from the estate of Francis J. Halt, care of Bernadette Dean.

      The Camden County Clerk's Office and the Camden County Department of Parks have donated the sanitation facilities.