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Sleep-Out to Support Homeless Veterans
April 19 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Twenty intrepid volunteers will spend the night outside in makeshift shelters to stand in solidarity with homeless veterans, while raising awareness of veteran homelessness in this country. The encampment kicks off at 5 p.m., and will feature a color guard with veteran Greg Bassette singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and other patriotic songs. The Veterans’ Place invites the public to participate in the opening ceremonies, and hear talks by Veterans with lived experience of homelessness.
Keynote speaker and decorated Army combat veteran Morgana Isenberg of the NHARNG will talk from her own experience as one of the 40,000 veterans who are homeless in this country on any given night. “No one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, a roof over their heads, or the care that they need when they come home,” says Isenberg.
An E4 specialist from Bravo Company 3643rd BSB out of Manchester, N.H., Isenberg served in Kuwait and Iraq as convoy security during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in Operation New Dawn as lead gun truck 50 caliber gunner and driver. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, and Master’s Drivers Badge. She is currently a veteran outreach program specialist with the Vet Center, operating out of White River Junction.
Other speakers include Skyler Koch, a former infantry squad leader, sergeant E5, with the United States Army, and executive officer of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 26-1, who currently serves in a peer support role at The Veterans’ Place. Their talks will be followed by a Q and A session with the public.
The purpose of the Sleep-Out is to raise awareness of the problem of veteran homelessness in this country, and to support The Veterans’ Place, a nonprofit providing a home and support services for veterans while they work to reclaim the skills, wellness, confidence, resources, and motivation to live healthy, independent, and productive lives.
Admission is free; however, donations to support homeless veterans will be gratefully accepted.
