On the afternoon of June 12, VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana hosted its third annual Military Stand Down event at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. At this Military and Veteran specific resource fair, representatives of over 40 organizations were stationed at tables prepared to distribute informational materials to passersby. VNA Hospice NWI employees, volunteers, and veterans from a variety of branches of the military were in attendance. VNA Hospice NWI President and CEO Bob Franko states that the Military Stand Down event reflects VNA Hospice NWI’s values.
“Veterans are woven into the DNA of VNA Hospice NWI and we believe they deserve the best, ” Franko said. “You’d think that veterans would be getting everything they need in 2024, but that’s not the case. There are a lot of veterans out there who are struggling to find the resources and benefits they need and are entitled to. This event is a great way to bring all of these vendors together to help connect veterans with these vital services. Whenever there’s an opportunity for us at VNA Hospice NWI to give back by doing something for our veterans, we will absolutely take that opportunity.”
A wide variety of vendors were present, including Adam Benjamin Jr. VA Outpatient Clinic, WorkOne, Purdue University Northwest’s Office of Veteran Services, Catholic Charities, Hancock Mortgage Partners, Porter-Starke Services, HealthLinc, and Miller’s Health Systems, Inc. Veterans were also offered free haircuts and massages. VNA Hospice NWI Director of Development Maria Galka believes that the Military Stand Down is an important networking opportunity.
“I really enjoy watching the vendors interact,” Galka said. “The vendors are networking with each other and learning how they can work together. Ultimately it all contributes to the common cause of serving the veteran. I love that VNA Hospice NWI supports veterans with events like this because my father was a Vietnam veteran. My oldest son served during the Iraq War and my son-in-law is an Afghanistan veteran. The fact that VNA Hospice NWI is assisting veterans and honoring their service means a lot to me personally.”
American Legion Auxiliary Unit #260 out of Portage graciously provided Sloppy joes, while Coffin Coffee Company provided a coffee bar, and Strack and Van Til and Family Express provided chips, drinks, and cookies. Maggie Sikora-Black, a five-year hospice volunteer at VNA Hospice NWI, appreciates the chance to contribute to an event such as this.
“I first encountered VNA Hospice NWI when my late husband, a proud Marine, was under their care,” Sikora-Black said. “They are truly angels on earth. Since I understand how difficult it is to care for a loved one at home until their final breath, I am very passionate about helping the families that I have been blessed to serve. I come from a military family and volunteering at events like this is my way of giving back to others who have served.”
Michael Quirk, outreach educator at CapTel Captioned Telephone and one of the vendors at the event, was promoting CapTel’s veterans program. This program provides hearing-impaired veterans with delivery and installation of a CapTel phone at no cost. Quirk considers the Military Stand Down event to be an important – and potentially life-changing – educational opportunity for veterans.
“A lot of veterans don't know what services are available to them out there,” Quirk said. “Events like this help them learn how to procure aid and attendance benefits, various medical resources, and bigger discounts on their insurance. An event like this is really beneficial and our veterans truly deserve the support, after all they've been through.”
This year’s Military Stand Down is the first that Private First Class David Stonebreaker has attended. Stonebreaker, a Third Infantry Regiment Army soldier who served during the Vietnam Era, considers this event to be one that everybody involved can benefit from.
“I believe that this event is important because it makes the community aware of what veterans have done,” Stonebreaker said. “It’s also a great way to help the veterans who need it. I’d like to promote it so other veterans can take advantage of the resources that are being offered here. I want to thank my fellow veterans for their service, especially the ones who were in combat.”
To learn more about VNA Hospice NWI, please visit vnanwi.org.