by Keith Simpson

Created on: January 10, 2010

Stand Down is a military anachronism, which means the men and women at the front line engaged in heavy fighting with no food and no water get a chance to move to the rear, rest up and retool. The front lines of America seem to be the homeless. As the country is in increasing financial trouble maybe the homeless are already living what is to come to us all.

Stand down originally organized in San Diego to help homeless Veterans about 20 years ago. Now it is nationwide. Bridging the gap Stand Down in Rock Island took place September 25-27. The event was held in the QCAA expo center.

Eighty people attended on Thursday night to spend the whole weekend including vets and non-vets. “This is the largest turn out ever in eight years,” Mike Malstrom chief organizer said.

WQAD TV in Moline received a press release about the event and were on hand to do some live filming. “ It’s good that there is such a big turnout because it means the organizers are reaching people, but it’s bad because it shows the state of the economy,” Amy Berilleaux said.

Participants checked their bags at the door, were given a claim check and allowed to take in only a few items, including three days supply of medications if needed. They were given clothing, toiletries, a towel and smokers received a free pack of cigarettes. If you came on Thursday it was basically a lock down situation. No drugs, alcohol, weapons or fighting were tolerated. Lights out at ten and up by six thirty.

Cots were issued and people filed into little cloth and metal cubicles with names like Charlie, Alpha and Delta. There were about five or six to a cubicle on the men’s side.

There was plenty of entertainment throughout the weekend. On Thursday, they played bingo while some people watched movies like Die Hard and Drop Zone.

There was also musical entertainment Fiddling Pat Oliver and Chris Dunn played favorites by the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and John Prime. They also played some blue grass numbers. They played for a total of two hours.

Mike Malestrom called everybody in to tell the how he wanted this weekend to go. He said everybody respect your neighbor and there is no color around here. He told the participants that he wants them to visit as many of the agencies that were to be there on Friday. The Lions Club hearing test was mandatory because they needed the numbers to come back. The QCCA expo center people let the Stand Down rent the hall for a third

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