Vets in need ‘Stand Down’ at Armory

It’s been said that a soldier doesn’t fight because he hates what’s in front of him, but instead he fights because he loves what he left behind.

And when the battles are finally over, these veterans return to what they left behind and loved, but might not always have everything they need for their own happiness and survival.

That’s where “Stand Down” comes in, providing many of those necessities to hundreds of veterans for the 38th time just before Thanksgiving at the Freeport Armory. There they could find food, shoes, clothes, and other personal care items, all put together by a team of veteran support groups.

Freeport village mayor Robert Kennedy — a Vietnam veteran himself from the U.S. Navy — joined those volunteers to hand out supplies with by Nassau County’s veterans services director Ralph Esposito and his team. Yet the real thanks for putting it all together, Kennedy said, belong to Paul Vista, Esposito’s deputy at the veterans services agency.

A number of veterans drove up to the armory on Nov. 22, forming an efficient drive-through queue where they would received goods by category as they progressed through the line. Volunteers sifted through bags and waited behind tables piled high with clothes containers of shirts, pants, winter jackets, food boxes, and even some Thanksgiving pies and turkeys. 

“We had a lot of volunteers help us from all the veterans organizations, and those outside that also helped us out,” Esposito said. “But the biggest contributors are the people that put this together and gave us what we needed — whether it was the supply or the food. They’re the ones that collect the full data, and they packed over 500 bags of food for these veterans.”

As the line moved, Kennedy also thanked those who served from all branches — not only his own Navy, but also the U.S. Army, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard.

But it was more than just physical supplies offered to the veterans. Esposito and his team offer various services that could help these defenders of freedom in the long term. That includes applying for a government program that reduces the cost of senior citizen care for veterans and their spouses.

Esposito and Vista work throughout the year to help veterans obtain federal, state and local benefits, as well as earn compensation if they were injured while serving. They also offer housing, educational assistance, and potential employment to any veteran in need.

“We need to help those military veterans who were injured while serving in the military,” Kennedy said. “We need to provide better medical and housing where needed, and financial support to all veterans who served in the time of war.”

Located in Building Q at 2201 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, the county’s veterans services office also features a marketplace allowing the former military members to pick up a week’s worth of food as well as other items for themselves and their families. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to noon. 

“If you need help, stand down and come to us and ask for help,” Esposito said. “Don’t try and do everything yourself. We’re here to help you stand down and get what you need.”

During times of war, fatigued and injured fighting forces in need of rest and recuperation were withdrawn from the battlefields to a location of peace and protection known as a “stand down.” Troops were able to take care of their personal health, acquire clean uniforms, eat warm meals, receive medical assistance, write and receive letters, and enjoy the company of others in a safe setting at secure base camp sites. 

Today, the term “stand down” refers to a grassroots, neighborhood-based intervention program created to aid veterans by connecting them with available neighborhood resources.

“We as residents benefit from the services of our armed forces,” Kennedy said. “The Veterans Stand Down is to show our appreciation to those who served in the armed forces (who provided) us the freedom to vote, the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, and equal rights for all.”

To learn more about veteran services in the county, call (516) 572-6565.