The 2018 Tacoma Dome Veterans Resource Fair and Stand Down is looking to assist even more veterans at this year's event April 28.

"The Veterans Resource Fair sets a precedence ... (it's) a community ‘labor of love' that brings together veterans, active-duty members, National Guard and their families from all eras, all backgrounds, genders and ethnicities ... all under one roof," said event coordinator and veteran Shawn Durnen.  

The event started as a way to collaborate networks of care for veterans and their families.

"The idea originally was to create a unified network of care. The care in question would develop a smooth transition, support and follow through for our military on their continued transition through life after service," Durnen said. "Additionally, this would create a passion-driven society of understanding and acceptance and (a) brighter future for yesterday's warriors and tomorrow's future leaders (to create) a culture of competency that would bridge the divide of our current societal norms."

The Tacoma Dome Veterans Resource Fair and Stand Down presents warmth and understanding, strength in unity and an understanding through peer-to-peer relationships.

"This essentially allows reliability through shared life experiences to guide long-term strengthening bonds to lead the way in a true ‘peer support triage,' Durnen explained.

The event is heavily reliant on volunteers, advocates, sponsors and donors. With their help, the event has grown from 150 veterans and 25 providers in its first year to more than 3,000 attendees and 200 providers in its sixth.

"My favorite moment (of past years) was seeing our madam director from your Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs attending and getting to watch how engaged she was with our (female) veterans, not taking a break (and) sharing her story and even delivering help where it was seriously needed," Durnen said. "It even motivated one of our regular returning volunteers to go forward to finish her Masters of Social Work at the University of Washington, even though she is a single mother that was barely affording her housing, working during night hours and still doing school during the day.

"These kinds of moments are what motivate me to continue, knowing that our community can make an impact and establish real change in a veteran's life."

These are just some of the examples that show the importance of supporting veterans.

"This event is a true show of what a community can do," Durnen said. "It started off as a labor of love and will remain that way as long as there are individuals willing to encourage true change."

The mission of leaving no veteran behind has led to the event's continued success and growth.

"The (event's) success is measured through understanding of our neighbors, our youth and the important concept of true triage that will enforce no one ever being left behind," Durnen said.  "The 6th annual fair will usher in a new team ready to serve and also new individuals to mentor, because that's how we work and that's what drives us to continue."

To learn more about the event, to volunteer or to register for the event, contact Durnen at 253.576.2146 or email him at shawn@nin9line.org.