[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 30 (Thursday, March 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MINNESOTA STAND DOWN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2000

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
tremendous success of the Minnesota Stand Down.
  Since 1993, Minnesota Stand Down has set forth an excellent example 
of successful collaborative efforts with the National Guard and Reserve 
Units, homeless shelter programs, health care providers and other 
members of the community in order to help combat the growing problem of 
homeless veterans. With the help of hundreds of volunteers from over 
150 different agencies and organizations, Minnesota Stand Down is truly 
a magical operation.
  I have had the honor of attending and participating in numerous Stand 
Down events in Minnesota over the years. Each event gathered over 1,000 
veterans in search of medical attention, shelter, food, legal 
assistance, transitional housing program assistance, showers and 
haircuts, clothing and meals. Most importantly, these special events 
provide companionship, camaraderie and mutual support.
  In its eighth year, Minnesota Stand Down is designed to give homeless 
veterans a brief respite from life on the streets. In response to this 
growing problem, I have sponsored H.R. 566, The Stand Down 
Authorization Act. This important legislation would, in conjunction 
with the grassroots community, expand the VA's role in providing 
outreach assistance to homeless veterans. H.R. 566 has the strong 
support of over 100 bi-partisan cosponsors, the VA, the American 
Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Disabled American 
Vets (DAV). Stand Downs are not a solution to the problem of 
homelessness among veterans, but an opportunity to create an atmosphere 
and policy path conducive to bring about hope and long term solutions.
  I would like to share with all Members an uplifting poem written by 
Kathy Lindboe, the daughter of Minnesota Stand Down coordinator, Bill 
Lindboe. It is my hope that this enlightening message will ignite our 
efforts in providing more resources towards our forgotten heroes . . . 
homeless veterans.

                    A Lonely Man Walks in the Night

                           (By Kathy Lindboe)

     A lonely man walks in the night, it is cold and quiet with no 
           end in sight.

     With looks of anger, looks of disgust, the strangers pass 
           him.
     They assume he must be another bum who deserves the street, 
           never knowing his name, never knowing his feat.

     That he fought for their freedom to walk on by,
     that he fought for their country, he saw his friends die.
     That he fought for tomorrow, he was shot in the chest, he 
           fought for them all, for he loved them all best.

     Now he talks to himself for some company.
     He keeps his head down, he doesn't want them to see, his 
           unshaven face, his frostbitten ears, the fear in his 
           eyes from the last 30 years.

     He hides from the world, existing on pride.
     That for his country he lives, for this country, men died.

     And his cry in the night, lingers on in his soul.
     Another lonely man living, The war veterans role.

     

                          ____________________