VNA Hospice Northwest Indiana hosts annual Military Stand Down event in Lake County

On Wednesday, November 12, veterans throughout the Region were invited to attend the VNA Hospice Northwest Indiana (NWI) Military Stand Down in Lake County. The event took place in the Mike Anderson Event Center at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center in Merrillville. It was open to all veterans and active-duty military members as well as their families or caregivers.

Alexandra Szopinski, volunteer coordinator and We Honor Veterans coordinator for VNA Hospice NWI, expected around 200 attendees this year. Events like this allow the organization to give back to the men and women who have given so much to their country.

“It’s a way of not only thanking our veterans in the community for their service, but connecting them with access to services that might help improve their quality of life for the unique circumstances that veterans experience after their service. The available services tailor to that,” she said.

Inspired by the stand downs of the Vietnam era — which offered service members a break from combat to attend to personal needs — the event provided veterans with the opportunity to connect with more than 50 vendors offering resources, benefits, and other helpful information all in one convenient location.

To make the day even more welcoming, Coffin Coffee Company, Curbside Dogs, and Family Express provided food and refreshments. Guests enjoyed hot dogs outside the main entrance, coffee to warm up, and pizza and pop inside the mess hall. Szopinski emphasized the importance of providing support for those facing tough times.

“Over 1 million veterans are on SNAP, and with that lapsing during the government shutdown, it created a lot of instability for people who really don’t need it. Even though we can’t replace government programs like SNAP, we have a hot meal here and other services that may be able to help. I think it’s really important that they get access to that,” Szopinski said.

The VNA Hospice Choir opened the event with the national anthem, and the Charles Pratt American Legion Post 94 Color Guard presented the colors. Vendors distributed everything from free haircuts to raffle prizes to valuable resources for veterans and their families.

The event underscored the strength of community collaboration in Northwest Indiana. Szopinski emphasized that the VNA is just one of many community-oriented organizations in Northwest Indiana. 

“It’s really nice to be able to look out and see a room full of people come together and make connections with volunteers, the community, and veterans,” she said.

Among the many participating vendors was Kyle Feck, owner of On the Go Therapy Mobile Massage, who offered complimentary chair massages for veterans.

“I enjoy seeing all these vendors from all over the Region, meeting people, and talking to them about why we’re here: to support the veterans. We’re all out here for a great cause. Today, for me, is very rewarding,” Feck said.

Another vendor, La-Zann Yana from Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village, expressed her deep personal connection to the cause. With a father who was a Marine and both her grandfather and father-in-law having served, the event held special meaning for her.

“Veterans have my heart. It’s just an honor to be here to give back to the veterans who gave so much to us. There’s a lot of family pride here,” she said.

The event would not have been possible without the dedication of its volunteers. For Melody Murphy and Phyllis Pierson, this was their first year volunteering at the Stand Down. Both women have family members who have served and were proud to contribute.

“I’m very proud of our country and the people who protect our freedom,” Murphy said.

The Stand Down also drew local veterans who were grateful for the recognition and connection. For Rosiland Marzette, a Gary resident who served six years in the Army, it was her first time attending the event, but it will not be her last.

“It is really nice for people to come out and let us know that we’re not forgotten. The world is not such a nice place anymore, but this was nice. I learned there are a lot of kind and friendly people out there still,” Marzette said.

For more information on VNA Hospice Northwest Indiana and its We Honor Veterans program, visit vnanwi.org.