In Their Own Words
In Their Own Words
Stand-Down
An order reserved for a moment of extreme emergency
To the commoner this phrase seems a waste
Usually announced authoritatively, urgently
To stave off acts of chaos, exceeding the plan
Its purpose is to interrupt insanity in man
But the soldier, ah the soldier, often will chaste
Seems ludicrous to cease aggression upon thine enemy
However, the annuls of humankind experience reflects its inception
aplenty
Excessive rounds hap hazardly fired at a foe, long expired
Rebellious towards regulations, laws, rules, things desired
Feelings run a muck, emotions a force frayed
Mindless of security for self and others staid
Stand-Down soldier and be restored to sanity.
An order reserved for a moment of extreme emergency
Usually announced authoritatively, urgently
Thus pronounced and intended to splice the balance which intimately is odd
Piercing the struggle asunder of soul and spirit, clarity from God
No battle involving one soldier ever subsided with pride
Nor does pride justify the means by which we hide
Behind the smile raging anger desperately seeks clarity
Love and hate delicately trickle through our minds a dance of parody
Its not you I despise
The mirror only reflects its beholder, worthless in my eyes
When terror escapes abstractly formulated in fear
Violent destruction rules the mind and its fabric of sanity year by year
Stand-Down soldier and be restored to sanity.
Hearken to the voice of reason
Battle worn, solitary man on the verge of death and ruin; this is the season
Since the inception of this order overrides the escape of ammunition left in a clip,
clung to with intensity
A future of hope, discipline and freedom from judgement unto condemnation is your
destiny
Be wise soldier for the battle is within, true?
Thine most opposing enemy has become you
Judge not the source
Cast off the guilt, fear and shame threatening your remorse
Stand-Down soldier and be restored to sanity.
Stand Down Resident
Used with express permission of the
Author.
May not be duplicated without such permission.
Wilbur was in the Army from 1970-1973, & overseas.
Here
is some of what he
wrote: "I, like a lot of veterans, ran head on with addiction & all
the problems
that come with it. I used drugs & alcohol for 40 years. I had times of
sobriety,
forced by jobs or life itself. In Sept. of 07 I found myself on 3C at the
West
Palm Beach VA, a locked ward for detox, also for suicidal & homicidal
vets.
I think I was all of the above. I had lost hope & was totally spiritually
depleted.
At that point, I knew I had to stop the way of life. It was change or die
.... it was
brought to my attention a program ... for veterans only & that they
worked closely
with the VA. I was interviewed & accepted .... When I came to
Stand Down I didn't
know what to expect, I had nothing but an old van & a couple
of guitars .... From
the moment I got to Stand Down I was welcomed by other
veterans that were there
& a caring staff. Being a vet with vets made a big
difference, there was kinship.
From the start the staff started addressing my
problems. They clothed me ...
provided 3 meals a day ... a good clean place to live
.... on-site AA & NA & a
variety of classes to help live life on life's terms. They
worked with the VA to
get me into addiction programs ... a PTSD program, &
addressed my medical
problems. They provided transportation to & from all
appointments both inside
& outside the VA. For me, now 6 months into this
program my whole way of life
has taken a positive change that I thought could
never again be for me. My whole
way of thinking & living has changed .... Stand
Down has made many changes in
me & I look forward to a happier more
productive life. There are some buildings
we live in, but Stand Down is in the
caring & understanding staff ...& the men
who come here to make change ...
Stand Down has changed my life."
Scott was in the Army (5th SFG[A]) from 1983-1985. He
had been at Stand
Down for two months in 2007 when he wrote the following: "My
experience
as a resident / client of Stand Down House has been one of healing,
learning,
recuperation and rejuvenation. The program and methods of recovery
employed
by SDH have been beneficial to all aspects of my being: mentally,
physically,
emotionally and spiritually. In brief - the program is a process of
learning to once
again become a clean, sober, responsible and productive
member
of society.
Monday - Friday breakfast begins at 0430. Morning chores are done
and its
off to the VA Hospital for classes and group therapy. These classes and
the
instruction on how to stay clean and sober and the dynamics of addiction have
probably saved my life. Without the tools I've been taught by the therapists and
staff, it's almost certain that I wouldn't have been able to maintain my
sobriety.
This program works. If you're a veteran and want a better life - free of
drugs
and alcohol -I recommend Stand Down House. SDH will provide a veteran
with
what you need - but you have to want it." Signed "A Grateful Recovering
Addict"
Richard was an Aviation Storekeeper (USS Boxer LPH-4)
from 1966-1969.
He came to Stand Down in March 2007 and in July wrote the
following which
he titled Body-Mind-Spirit "An Opportunity to Explore Ourselves."
He wrote:
"Upon my arrival at Stand Down, I was physically and mentally broken -
no where
to go - hopeless. Stand Down provided me a safe and secure
environment, in
which I could start my journey of recovery & a sober life.
The program provided
transportation to & from the V.A. Hospital allowing me
the opportunity to receive
the medical attention I needed to return my body to a
healthy functioning person.
Also the Outpatient Treatment groups at the V.A.
Hospital and Stand Down
offered me information and suggestion, to allow me to
understand the extent of
my addiction. These groups are facilitated by a highly
trained and caring staff
of Mental Health providers. The staff offers nothing but
compassion, time,
guidance, knowledge and respect to each individual in the
program. For me,
along with the help for both body & mind, and thru this
guidance, I came to
find a spirit in my life. A new RESPECT for myself and others.
A feeling of
being a worthwhile person. No longer an outcast. I am grateful for the
welcome, security, and compassion of Stand Down and it's staff."
Charles was an Army Supply Clerk from 1971-72. He was
at Stand Down for 20
months when he wrote the following: "My
achievements at Stand Down have
changed my life and also me. I have been in
different programs, but the Stand
Down system is totally different in many ways.
The knowledge, courage, honesty,
and loyalty of the staff, and other members that
help and give their time, help us
to go forward in life. It has been rewarding for me
and now my interest is in
helping other people like me. Stand Down is a place that
if there were more like
this one, it would help and change a lot of people to put
their life back together.
It has really changed my life and my recovery."
Shelly was an Army Communications Technician from
1970-71. He resided at
Stand Down for over one year, left for a short time, and
returned early in 2002
for more help. He wrote the following: "I would like to take
this opportunity to
express thanks to Stand Down for the combined effort,
knowledge and direction
that I have received during my tenure here. By being a
veterans only program
I felt safe and was able to let go of a lot of baggage.
Through my ups and downs
journey I was never given up on and for this I am
eternally grateful. I'm confident
enough now to go on with my life and perhaps one
day I might be able to help one
human being go in the right direction. I am very
grateful and all is appreciated."
Michael was one of our first residents. He was an Air
Force Crew Chief in a C130,
was in the service from 1968-75, & served five
years in the Vietnam theater.
He wrote the following: "I was a resident at Stand
Down for almost two years.
I came here looking to get straight so I could go to
work but as it turned out
I'm now the" Senior Resident Technician. "Stand Down
gave me the tools &
education to understand about my alcohol and crack
addiction. They treated
me with respect & gave me a safe and secure place to
live. As a result of
educational, medical, & psychological help, I've turned my
life around to
where I established a new relationship with my daughter. I've
decided
to stay working with Stand Down and try to help others."
How You Can Help
Donations helped us provide support & services for these men.
Your
contribution would help our non-profit organization to
continue to provide services
to our homeless veterans. To get
more information on how you can help us help
them click here.
Our Other Pages
Return to and/or visit these other Stand Down pages:
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Page updated February 13, 2008