COEUR d'ALENE - Christina Palmer walked next to her dad Saturday morning as he strolled along with his walking stick. His amiable eyes peered out from between the brim of his ball cap and his white beard.

Those kind eyes have seen more than 15 years of active military service, which is what draws Robert and his daughter back to the Veterans Stand Down each year.

"It's a father-daughter deal that we do," said Robert, who served in the Army's Infantry from 1976 to 1993. "This is our time to sit and talk about things."

The Palmers, of Coeur d'Alene, come to the Stand Down together, but it is a way for Robert to interact with other veterans as well.

"To be honest with you, it's the camaraderie between vets," he said. "It kind of relieves a lot of pressure, because we can see we're not the only ones, and we can reflect back and forth with our fellow veterans. We've been there, you know what I mean?"

It's also a day when Christina can hear about her dad's military experiences as he shares them with new and old friends.

"Every year I hear a new story," Christina said. "This event is great, I just wish they did it more than once a year."

The 21st annual Veterans Stand Down was held in the Jacklin Building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The event provides services to homeless and disadvantaged veterans in Coeur d'Alene and the five northern counties. People travel from all over the Northwest to take part in the Stand Down, either to volunteer, obtain supplies and services or simply to show their support for each other and reconnect with old buddies.

Many were setting up and preparing long before the sunrise, such as Stand Down chairperson Eric Swanbeck, who is also veteran services coordinator for St. Vincent de Paul. He estimated that at least 1,200 people had come through the Stand Down by late morning. He had been there since before 5 a.m. and spent six months preparing for the event.

"A lot of these guys put their lives on the line," he said. "I'm not a veteran but my dad died in a war. Nobody can imagine what it is like to be shot at every single day, or to be shooting at somebody, and then to see some of the horrific things that they see."

More than 50 organizations were on site to provide services such as medical and dental checks, counseling, food assistance, clothing, pet care and haircuts. Although Stand Downs are geared toward homeless vets, all veterans are welcome to attend.

"We know all these people aren't homeless, but we have people that live on the cusp," said John Davis, homeless veteran director of the Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane. "They might live paycheck to paycheck, some of them might not have money to buy new clothing, so we'll let any veteran come in."

Davis has helped with 83 Stand Downs. An Air Force veteran, Davis explained how it feels to know he has made a difference in veterans' lives.

"It recharges your soul," he said.

According to the National Coalitions for Homeless Veterans website, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that 57,849 veterans are homeless on any given night.

Another one-day Stand Down is scheduled to take place in Sandpoint on June 14.

"It's a hand up, not a handout," said Arnold Howe, chairman of the Kooetnai County Veterans Council and Air Force veteran. "We've got all kinds of services inside ... to help the vets. It doesn't matter what we do, there's still vets out there that are homeless. And that's our purpose, is to try to help them all."

To volunteer or be involved with next year's Veterans Stand Down in Coeur d'Alene, contact Swanbeck at 704-0548.

Info: www.va.gov/homeless/events.asp