On July 17 through July 18, Veterans Village of San Diego hosted the 38th Annual Stand Down event, a two-day outreach serving unhoused and at-risk veterans and their families, at Arts District Liberty Station’s Ingram Plaza.Founded by Veterans Village of San Diego in 1988, the annual Stand Down event has become a template to connect veterans and service providers in over 170 cities nationwide. “At Stand Down, we restore hope, remove barriers, and honor the courage of those who have served our country,” said Akilah Templeton, Veterans Village of San Diego president and CEO.This year’s event brought together over 150 community partners, service providers, and vendors to serve several hundred unhoused and at-risk veterans.Sponsored by Cool Air Rebate, 2026’s Stand Down kicked off the weekend-long event on Friday, July 17, with a presentation by Naval Base San Diego Color Guard and a keynote speech from 50th District Congressman Scott Peters. Master of ceremonies Shuna Ball expressed gratitude and appreciation for those who helped in this year’s event. “It is truly an incredible community working together to serve those who have served,” said Bell.During his invocation, Chaplain Don Biadog noted, “We gather in a spirit of compassion, unity and deep respect … thank you for this sacred moment, Stand Down, where burdens are lifted, dignity is restored, and hope is renewed. Many carry invisible wounds, heavy memories —remind them that they are not forgotten, not abandoned, and never alone.”Bob Willingham, Veterans Village of San Diego board chair, thanked veterans, noting Stand Down was the first support event of its kind in the nation. “We’re very proud to carry the torch for this organization and all of those who have been supporting this event for all of those years,” he said.TJ Zane, executive director of the San Diego County Dental Foundation, a featured partner for this year’s Stand Down explained the importance of the event and the meaning behind it. [The term Stand Down] comes from the battlefield; it is a moment when service members can step away from the front line, find safety, take care of themselves, and prepare for what comes next. That is exactly what happens here.”During his keynote address, U.S. Rep. Peters gave kudos to Veterans Village of San Diego and Stand Down, noting, “We will never be able to replace the leadership at this place and places like this in San Diego,” he said. “Stand Down is about more than providing a service to the community. It’s about building trust, removing barriers, and reminding all veterans that they’re not forgotten.”“Veterans Village of San Diego pioneered Stand Down, and it’s become a national model for helping veterans across the country,” continued Peters. “It started as an emergency response to help support Vietnam vets, and since then has helped generations of service members find footing after their service.”Noting that more than 110,000 active-duty service members and 240,000 veterans call the San Diego region home, Peters concluded: “We’re a proud military town. That means San Diegans know first-hand the sacrifices service members and their families make in service to our country. Some even endure the ultimate sacrifice – the loss of a loved one. For this, our nation owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.”
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