It was Graduation Day at Stand Down!  

This Sunday morning's breakfast was pancakes with ham steak and scrambled eggs.  

Making pancakes for 1350 people

Veterans had their final opportunity to receive any services they needed before the closing ceremonies and graduation which was schedule in the afternoon.

Just one of the many services available to veterans

Many were able to find temporary housing through various Veteran Village outreach programs.

Active Military very supportive of the homeless and/or injured veterans

In the early afternoon, there was an open mic which allowed many participants to express their feelings about the three day respite from the streets or some who had housing chose to reveal how many years they have been sober thanks to Stand Down.   chose to sing a song.  One man wrote a poem about his experience at Stand Down and read it to the crowd.  It was all very emotional.

Doug Curlee interviewing David for a later broadcast on KUSI News

The graduation was displaying of the colors and carrying the flags from each squad tent. As each squad was called, a bagpipe played as the graduates marched across the field to the stage to receive a Stand Down 2012 cap, handshakes, hugs and goodwill wishes from the organizers, other veterans and active military personnel.

There were many in our squad who requested that we should all return next year and share the same squad tent once again.  That is my plan.