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Pre-Registration Requested For Veteran Stand Down

Veterans, service members, their families and caregivers who plan to take part in Friday’s 2022 Kosciusko County Military Veteran Stand Down are being encouraged to pre-register.

“Pre-registration is pretty important. We’re encouraging veterans and their families to pre-register online,” said Guy Fisher, vice president of community engagement, Goodwill Industries of Michiana Inc.

Registration can be found online at https://sites.google.com/goodwill-ni.com/veteranservices/stand-downs/warsaw-stand-down

The Stand Down is 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at Warsaw Municipal Airport, 3000 Airport Road, Warsaw.

On-site registration will begin at 2:30 p.m. People are asked not to arrive more than one hour before the start of the Stand Down.

Fisher said the 2021 Stand Down was held at the airport and it went really well. At the event will be information on veteran services, vendors and giveaways.

“It’s just a way for us to minister to the veteran community of Kosciusko County,” he said.

Veterans and their families should bring their DD214, military ID or Veterans Administration (VA) Health Care.

The event is outside, mostly under tents, so Fisher said it will be a little warm. Pre-registering will help make everyone’s experience go a little faster.

Approximately 25 to 30 vendors and organizations participated in the 2021 event, which Goodwill Industries hosts, Fisher said. Some of the participating vendors and organizations include WorkOne, Disabled American Veterans, VA, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, local colleges and other resources, plus various Goodwill resources.

He said Goodwill holds the Stand Downs to provide for the needs of veterans and it’s a way to give back to the veterans, service members, their families and caregivers. When veterans serve, Fisher said, their families are also serving.

“It’s just a way for us to give back to them,” he said.

When veterans return from military service, they often find civilian life to be different than what they’re used to. Fisher said the Stand Downs are a way for Goodwill to help veterans connect the dots to education, careers and other needs.

There also will be a traveling memory wall at the Stand Down for veterans to leave their memories. A flag ceremony at 3 p.m. will start the Stand Down.

Fisher estimates that 200 to 300 veterans and their families will come to Friday’s event. Some will spend more time at the event, catching up with their friends, while others will spend time at specific tents.

“We had one a month ago in Mishawaka and more than 350 showed up,” he said.

Anywhere from 25 to 30 volunteers from the community will help keep the event going smoothly, from parking cars to helping families carry the stuff they receive out to their vehicles. Boy Scouts helped direct traffic at the 2021 event.

To volunteer, contact the Goodwill Warsaw Center for Goodwill Connections at 574-269-1351, ext. 4122.