Letter to the Editor: Fort Belknap Vets Stand Down was appreciated

Editor:

United States veterans are an important part of each and every community. They have served and protected, and some have given the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that each and every American can live free. Unfortunately, many of those who have served, struggle with addiction, homelessness, poverty or other conditions that affect their quality of life.

Oct. 29, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and surrounding areas, along with the Veteran Affairs Division, Montana, gave back and honored our local vets in the Second Annual Veterans Stand Down. The purpose of this free event was to recognize the challenges our veterans face and offer them help by providing supplies, benefits counseling, resources, advice and many other services to ensure that they were well taken care of and that their needs were met.

The Stand Down provided an opportunity for the vets to connect with members of the community and share their experiences or simply sit down and have a good talk. This event could not have been a success without the hard work of the many volunteers, sponsors and programs who united together to organize, set up or provide resources.

The compassion, helping spirit and respect they showed is an inspiration. Their actions went a long way in making sure our veterans were taken care of in the way they deserve. Overall, 119 vets along with many members of the public were served. Without the dedication of so many, this would not have been possible.

Special thanks goes to Veterans Stand Down sponsors who, through their monetary donations, helped make the Stand Down a success: Bank of Harlem, Tilleman Chevrolet, Dugan's Tire Service, Harlem Lumber, American Legion Post 110 members, Fort Belknap Community Council and Fort Belknap tribal programs, as well as the members of the Stand Down Committee who served with me: Will Gray, Dale Snow and Mike Blackwolf; Minority Veterans Program Coordinator Buck Richardson for providing the military surplus that was disbursed during the event; the 102 public TANF volunteers who gave their time and energy to be the backbone of this year's Stand Down; and Calvin R. Harlan for the $5,000 sponsorship from TransCanada Co.

Thank you all.

Michael Weasel

Fort Belknap