(GREAT FALLS) Veterans from across Montana came to Great Falls on Friday for the annual Stand-Down.
This is the 12th year the Vets4Vets has hosted the event. The two-day event is a benefits fair for all veterans and active-duty members of the military.
There are 60 service providers and organizations, from medical to legal to the VA.
This year the stand-down is devoted to honoring Native American veterans,
Representatives from the Blackfeet Tribe and Rocky Boy both spoke during the opening ceremony.
“This kind of stuff and speaking at these things is quite emotional for me. We all had a job to do when we served and we did it. A lot of us have to live with the consequences,” John Monteaux said.
The Stand-Down will open again on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Montana ExpoPark.
The Disabled American Veterans Montana Chapter received a special gift before the event began, as the Ford Motor Company donated a 2019 Ford Flex to the DVA.
The VA of Montana will be taking care all of the maintenance of the newest vehicle to the DAV fleet.
This year the Ford Motor Company donated eight Ford Flex vehicles to the national DAV Transportation Network fleet, and Montana received one of the eight that was donated.
The vehicle will help transport disabled, injured, and ill veterans to their medical appointments.
DAV National 3rd Jr., Vice Commander Joe Parsetich is grateful for all the support Ford has given to veterans.
“We have had an affiliation with the Ford Motor Company since the early 1920’s. The service and the benefits they provide to the DAV in order to make it possible for the DAV to transport the veterans to their medical appointments is second to none. We could not do it without Ford,” Parsetich said.
The new vehicle will be based in Billings.
