Stand Down!

[Homeless Vets] Rarely seen, heard or asked for their opinions, some of Salt Lake City's homeless will get a little love tomorrow.

Various veterans organizations are sponsoring a day of medical care and social service counseling for homeless vets.

Beginning at 7 a.m. a shuttle from the VA Medical Center near the University of Utah will pick up vets at The Road Home Shelter downtown, and return them there throughout the afternoon.

They're calling the event "Homeless Veterans Stand Down 2007." Services to be offered include eye exams; mental health and substance abuse counseling; dental exams; flu shots; and assistance with Social Security, employment issues and veterans benefits.

"We honor the men and women who have fought to keep us free," says the neatly folded red, white and blue flier that landed in my office mailbox.

Nice to see this population get a nod for Veterans Day.

And a damn good way to see tax dollars spent, too. (Holly Mullen)