Convention in Duluth Targets Veterans in Need

DULUTH, Minn. —

For veterans of any age, returning to civilian life can be a very difficult transition.

Many don’t know about all the resources that are available to them.

That’s the purpose of the Stand Down for Vets event at the DECC in Duluth, brought to the area by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.

Every group at the convention represents a resource aiming at getting under-served veterans back on their feet and back to a more normal life after their service.

“It’s hard to do this job and not have some passion behind it,” said Paul Pedersen from MACV.  “There’s no excuse for the homelessness part, but there is so much out there that people just don’t know about.”

From clothing to housing to health insurance, the groups are all here to help former service men and women with anything they might need.

“Sometimes asking for help is hard,” Pedersen said.  “We want people to know that you’re going to be treated with respect.  Come on down and see some of your brothers and sisters.”

Larry Sell served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.

He was drafted in the mid-1960s.

He says the United States is getting better at the way it treats its veterans, but we can still get better at serving those who have already sacrificed so much.

“I think we’ve learned a lot from the Vietnam War until the Iraq War, especially on the soldiers that are wounded, that are taken in a lot quicker,” Sell said. “We weren’t treated the best, but you know, we were young and we didn’t know any different.  I went through the same problems that a lot of veterans do when you come back.”

The event only lasted through this afternoon, but Paul Pedersen says any and all of these services are only a phone call away.

Here is a link to MACV’s website for more.