Veterans Stand Down October 2nd in Crystal Lake

Its leaders may be under indictment, but NASA Education is sponsoring a one-day Veterans Stand Down on October 2nd.

The press release follows:

Veteran’s Stand Down October 2, 2012

Calling all veterans this event is for you.

There is no cost to attend this function.

Veterans who are newly discharged, displaced, disabled, homeless or unemployed are the focus of the Fall Veterans’ Stand Down, which will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2 at NASA Education’s corporate office, located at 3305 South Illinois Route 31 in Crystal Lake, IL.

The past three Stand Downs were held at the Harvest Bible Chapel in Crystal Lake, however Harvest Bible Chapel elected to not host the Stand Down this time to help the veterans, although Mr. Blanchard did not speak with anyone from Harvest, so he can only assume that they did not get what they wanted out of the event.

He thought it was about helping the veterans. Hundreds have received help during each of the last three
Stand Down’s that were held at Harvest, as well as the other nine Stand Down’s that were hosted at Camp Algonquin. He concluded with “I can’t think of any Christian reason why anyone wouldn’t want to help our veterans”. So once again, we were forced to make one of two decisions; not have the event or find another location.

According to Mr. John Blanchard, owner and Executive Director of NASA Education, “Not doing the Stand Down will never be an option. We have had incredible, measurable and verifiable results which shouldn’t change because of the opinions, venue or economic climate. Our attendees deserve the best during the good times and bad times because they had no choice but to serve their God, Country and Commander in Chief, regardless where it may have led them and now they deserve our best.

If Harvest Bible Chapel, doesn’t want to help us assist those in need, then we lost Harvest Bible Chapel, but if I was behind enemy lines and had to fulfill a task, I’m still going to do it regardless of what the obstacles may be. So tasked with finding yet another location, it seems the only viable option and decision that wouldn’t interfere with our event is to host the event on our own home turf.

So once again we took an obstacle and have turned it into an opportunity to make everything better because the people that attend the stand down couldn’t have it any worse. If we can’t obligate a day or two, twice a year to pull even one attendee out of their homeless status, then we have no reason to wrap ourselves in the flag as public servants.”

Blanchard, continued by saying, “ Those challenged and charged in fulfilling veteran opportunities as veteran organizations, should do whatever it takes to fulfill their mission regardless of funding or personal opinion. I certainly hope to see all of the same service providers that have supported the veterans over the past 12 stand downs which we have hosted, because after all the stand down is about supporting and helping the veterans, not reflecting the current climate. Once again, I challenge everybody in the seven county area to turn out for these individuals no matter what their personal opinions or agendas may be, whether Federal, State, County or local affiliation.”

“We will have something for every veteran in need,” said John Blanchard, executive director of National Association of Systems Administrators Education Corporation (NASA Education), the sponsor of the event. He added that the organization is expecting to assist over 300 veterans. “The community stands ready to help those who gave so much for all of us.” This is the 6th year and 13th Stand Down event sponsored by
NASA Education and even though we are able to assist our veterans, the numbers keep rising. With Iraq and Afghanistan coming to an end, there will be even more increasing numbers in the not to near future.

Known as one of the best Stand Downs in Illinois, attendees are treated with the utmost care and respect they deserve. “The individuals attending our Stand Down, coming for assistance are truly heroes. Each and every one of us owes them our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, worldwide. The reasons that they have reached the point in need of assistance, varies as widely as their own individuality. The people coming to the Stand Down for assistance are not only recent veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, but are also veterans that reach as far back as the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the few remaining heroes of WWII. These are today’s MIA’s; Missing In America.” said Blanchard, the sponsor of the event. As NASA Education motto states, “Through ‘help and healing and delivering on their hope’, these individuals want to rejoin the
mainstream of our productive society. They were once the most loyal, dedicated, responsible and professional employees that the federal government has ever had and they need to get that back.“

“The veterans aren’t looking for charity, and the help we’re giving them should not be interpreted as charity. They want a job. A place to live. A means of paying their bills. The same things all of us want and need,” said Blanchard. “They deserve these things.”

Veterans will also receive a number of amenities at the Stand Down.

Transportation will be provided from the Pingree Train Station in Crystal Lake, to the Stand Down site. Please phone NASA Education at 866-338-4968 toll-free for moreinformation about the Stand Down, pick-up points, volunteering and making donations.

Or you may send an email to Amy Johnson at Amy_Johnson@nasaeducation.org or please visit our website at www.nasaed.org. Although pre-registration is closed an individual may come the day of the event.

NASA Education is a Crystal Lake-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provides comprehensive workforce and community reintegration services for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled, homeless or otherwise in transition.


Comments

Veterans Stand Down October 2nd in Crystal Lake — 3 Comments

  1. Hello, I am wondering will there be a Stand Down 2013 in Chrystal Lake?

  2. Hello Amy, Suprise.

    I love YOU GUY”S and thank you for all you have done for me!!!!

    I will say that MR John Blanchard has done everything that this one man could do for me to get me back to careing about myself and family!!!

    NO SURPRISE HE HAS DONE THIS FOR NUMEROUS VETS….

    I personaly was at the very first standdown and I would chalenge any city or state at that time to even compare what Mr.Blanchard did for the algonquin park, and the VETERANS in the area!!!!

    then he spent HIS TIME”””HIS RESORSES TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD ATTEND…

    I Thank you personally from the bottem of MY HEART…YOUR FRIEND FOREVER…

    Ronnie T.

  3. Wow, I am at the top of the list…

    I still love all you guy especially you John you gave me hope,friendship,what loyilty, confidence and being true to yourself, the great people that actually seem to have confidence in the veteran when he or she has really very little hope for the future..?

    I think I am very close to being the first of your many successful attempts to do what you do…!

    Unfortunately John Blanchard you alone can’t save us all!!!

    That is why I hope that others will join your mission for men and women who gave there ALL AND MUCH MORE FOR OUR FREEDOM!!!!!

    Thank you

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