Proclamation

Proclamation A PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR DECLARING September 7, 2023 as Five Seasons Stand Down Day Whereas, VALOR, inc., in partnership with the Cedar Rapids Metro Area Veterans Council, the Iowa City VA Medical Center, and the Linn County Continuum of Care will hold Linn County’s 17th annual Stand Down for homeless and near-homeless veterans and non-veterans, and; Whereas, Stand Down is a term used in times of war in which exhausted combat units come off the battlefield to rest and recover in a place of safety, and; Whereas, According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam Veterans in San Diego, and; Whereas, Today, Stand Down also refers to a community-based program that provides assists homeless and near-homeless veterans transition to community living by providing access to human service agencies, including benefits counseling (Social Security and Veterans), employment and training assistance, eye exams screenings, health care screenings, housing services, legal assistance, mental health treatment and substance abuse counseling, and; Whereas, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless veterans, nationally reaching more than 200,000 veterans and their family members. Now, Therefore, I, Lyle Andersen, Mayor of City of Springville, Iowa, do hereby proclaim September 7, 2023, as the “17th Annual Five Seasons Stand Down Day” and encourage residents to recognize the positive impacts of this event to assist Veterans, and to express gratitude to those who have served and continue to serve.