(Utica NY – September 7, 2013) The CNY Veterans Expo is held at SUNYIT in Utica and connects veterans and their families directly to area providers.
The expo begins with a service fair at 10 a.m. with local and regional agencies and businesses including the VA and many not-for-profit service providers.
Special services for homeless veterans are also available.
The opening ceremony from11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will include the keynote speaker, Patrick W. Welch, Ph.D.
The event will be held Wednesday Oct. 9 at the SUNYIT, Campus Center Gymnasium, 575 Residential Dr.
Lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for preregistered attendees. Register at www.vetexpo.org.
The service fair concludes at 2 p.m.
A free shuttle is available from the CNY Veterans Outreach Center, 726 Washington St., Utica and will leave every half hour starting at 10 a.m. The last shuttle back to the Outreach Center will leave at 2 p.m.
Patrick W Welch, Ph.D., Sgt. USMC (ret) started his military service as an infantry squad leader with the 3rd Division in Vietnam in 1965 and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service. The decorated veteran also is recipient of Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Campaign, Vietnam Service Medals, and New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. From 2008 to 2010, Welch served as Director of Veterans Services in Erie County and recently retired from his position as the Director of the Center for Veterans and Veteran Family Services Office at Daemon College. Patrick Welch was inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame in 2010.
Stand Down & Stand-Down Defined:
STAND DOWN: a) to go off duty, b) to withdraw from a contest, a position of leadership, or a state of alert or readiness
STAND-DOWN: one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans. Stand-Downs are events providing services to homeless Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment. Stand- Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.