Giving Back: Veteran Stand Down event highlights services | News, Sports, Jobs

Army veteran and consultant with Coplin Health Systems Jessie Diehm (right) listens as Marina Bilyeu (left), new hire consultant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center, talks about the services offered by the Vet Center in Parkersburg during a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Stand Down Friday at the Parkersburg Armory. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

PARKERSBURG – Civic groups, government agencies and others gathered at the Parkersburg Armory Friday to help veterans.

The Louis A. Johnson Veterans Affairs’ Medical Center in Clarksburg hosted a Veteran Stand Down in the Armory from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday.

The VA has been holding stand-down events for the past 10 years, said Brianna Hardman, social worker and director at Johnson Medical Center, and this was the first event they’ve held in Parkersburg in a long time.

The purpose of the stand-down “is to bring veterans together, provide them with resources and raise awareness of veteran homelessness in West Virginia,” Said Hardman.

She also said that the event is being organized to reach out to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as well as any other veterans in need.

Veterans and community organizations gathered at the Parkersburg Armory on Friday for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Stand Down event. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Johnson Center social worker Allison Pritt organized the strike and described it as “A one-stop shop for veterans to access all the resources they are eligible for or need.”

“Stand down” is a military term and Hardman said it means everyone stops what they are doing and comes together.

Pritt said the withdrawal gives veterans a chance “to enjoy the camaraderie.”

Hardman said veterans who participated in the break were able to get screened for toxic exposure and be connected to resources that could help them with any challenges that might arise due to exposure to toxic substances.

Hardman said there were 50 vendors in attendance, along with many visitors, for a total of about 200 people at the armory. Vendors included groups such as Vets4Vets and Legal Aid West Virginia, government agencies such as Workforce West Virginia and the Internal Revenue Service, and healthcare providers such as Coplin Health Systems, and many more.

Members of the Louis A. Johnson Veterans’ Administration Medical Center’s Vets with Guitars program play a song during a Veteran Stand Down at the Parkersburg Armory on Friday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

The Blennerhasset Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution provided snacks and water to attendees, and The Hangry House food truck was also on site.

Marina Bilyeu, VA Vet Center adjustment counselor, was on hand to educate veterans about the services available at the center in Parkersburg.

One of the veterans she spoke to was U.S. Army veteran Jessie Diehm.

Diehm said she works as a consultant for Coplin Health Systems and was on site to learn about all the services offered to veterans and to provide veterans with information about what Coplin offers.

She said she and other Coplin Health employees were also there “to check veterans’ A1C and blood pressure.” Diehm believes veterans should be informed about all the services available to them.

“You (should) really visit every table,” she said.

She said there were things for veterans that even she didn’t know about.

U.S. Army veteran Rick Standley, who lives in Parkersburg, also attended the Stand Down and works as a counselor at the Counseling and Wellness Center, a therapy practice.

“I use all resources” Stanley said about the reason for his participation

He also said he was there to network with other providers and provide information to veterans.

According to Stanley, during his deployment he learned about things he didn’t know were available to veterans, such as home health care.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at [email protected]