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Stand Down heads list of local Veterans Day events

**Mid-Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans will be held Thursday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The River Center, 3000 S. Santiam Hwy. in Lebanon.

Free services available include: bus rides to and from the event, hot showers, free food, medical and dental assistance, employment services, housing services, alcohol and drug treatment, VA outreach, legal aid, HUD-VASH, and DOD gear.

Donations accepted for veterans include: underwear, socks, coats , clothing, blankets, waterproof backpacks and sleeping bags, rain gear, tents, shoes and generally anything that will help homeless or low-income veterans and their families stay safe and warm. Donations for women and children are also encouraged.

“Our program–supportive services for veterans families–was meant to address the high percentage of veterans who ended up homeless, so that’s our focus,” said Dina Eldridge, housing services manager at Community Services Consortium.

“We think everybody deserves a decent place to live, especially those who have served our country so well.”

Homeless veterans face a lot of obstacles, such as mental illness, addiction, or disabilities and things like that that stem from their service, McKee said.

**Lebanon American Legion Post 51 will host the Veteran of the Year banquet Thursday, Nov. 10.

The 2016 Veteran of the Year, David Parker, USMC (Retired) of Keizer, will be honored.

Parker was nominated by the Oregon Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Also honored during the banquet will be Distinguished Veterans Charles Upton, Tom Owen, Larry Williams, Victor Kuhns and others.

A no-host social hour stars at 6 p.m., with the dinner and program following at 7 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 each until Nov. 21, when the price goes up to $30. Call (541) 981-2390 for tickets.

**The deadline for applications to participate in the Albany Veterans Parade, the largest west of the Mississippi, is Friday, Oct. 28. Would-be first-timer participants should send a request by email to [email protected]

**The Grand Parade itself will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, and run through Historic Downtown Albany – Pacific Boulevard to Lyons Street to 2nd Avenue to Ferry Street to 5th Avenue.