LUMBEE NEWS

Lumbee Celebrate Veterans at Stand Down

(November 2009) Veterans from across the tribal territory were recognized for their services Saturday, November 7, 2009 during the 2009 Veterans Stand Down event at Pembroke Middle School.

“I was in Vietnam in 1968 and I was standing in the halls at the VA hospital in the year of 2000— this lady came up to me and said ‘welcome home,’ that was the first time, as a Vietnam Veteran, anyone had even said thank you. At that time I had kind of realized we had put our veterans to the side,” recollected Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins(below right). The Stand Down is a grass roots, community based intervention program designed to help the nation’s veterans. Including those approximately 400,000 who are homeless, regardless of race, ethnicity, heritage, or sex. “We want to give you the honor and respect that you truly deserve. And it doesn’t matter to us what color you are, a veteran is a veteran. Thank God for the American Veteran,” concluded Chairman Goins.
The Veterans Benefit Administration, Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Cemetery Services were on hand circulating information and education regarding services available. “When I first came on board, I received a call from Mr. Harold Hunt. He came to my office and we spent a couple hours talking—he met with my associate director and that’s when the union between the VA and the Lumbee Tribe began.  It was also the year we had the first annual Stand Down,” commented Minority Veterans Program Coordinator Darrell Ford.

Various plaques were distributed to veterans who served in WWII and the Korean War. “Folks, I have one of the greatest staff in the world, these folks put a lot of hours into the type of work they do and what’s so magical about the whole thing is they are volunteers,” affirmed Lumbee Tribe Veterans Affairs Office Director Harold Hunt(pictured left).
Vendors were on hand to answer questions and educate veterans on local services and opportunities available to them. “Let us leave here today with a renewed feeling of commitment and a renewed zeal in our hearts for our country and our way of life,” stated Veterans Liaison Jean Reaves, Office of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan. Blankets, shoes, clothing and flu shots were distributed to the veterans as well.
For more information on VA benefits, programs and the Lumbee Tribe Office of Veterans Affairs please call (910) 522-2210.

Past Stand Down Stories

Veterans2009 Stand Down Public Service Announcement

Lumbee host first national Stand Down for Veterans 2008

CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Information Specialist
Office: 910.522.2202