On Saturday, October 17, our team joined veterans, service members and their families at El Monte VFW Post 10218 for the 7th Annual Heroes in the Shadows Stand Down. The Brandon Drew Group was proud to be one of the event's Honor Guard Sponsors.
A stand down is a day when veterans can find help in one place: a shower, a meal, a dental check, help with a VA claim, a lead on housing. The flyer billed it as "Open to the community," and it was a privilege to be part of it.
The day in brief
- Event
- 7th Annual Heroes in the Shadows: Stand Down
- When
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8 AM to 3 PM
- Where
- El Monte VFW Post 10218, 11126 Ramona Blvd., El Monte
- Hosted by
- El Monte VFW Post 10218
- Command sponsors included
- Vet Hunters Project, Veteran Peer Access Network SD-1, The Flying Doctors, VFW Post 10218, the 155th CSSB of the Army Reserve and the U.S. Army
- Who it's for
- Veterans, active duty, National Guard, Reserve and military families
What the day offered
The event flyer lists showers provided by the 155th CSSB of the U.S. Army Reserve, free dental and vision services from The Flying Doctors, and a free lunch. Veterans could also get help with VA claims, housing and homeless support, health and wellness screenings, employment and education, legal questions, financial and benefits counseling, and food, clothing and essential items.
Who makes it happen
Vet Hunters Project, one of the command sponsors and the contact for the event, is a grassroots nonprofit in the San Gabriel Valley. In its own words, its volunteers "go out into the community and help our Veterans who have been misplaced through homelessness." Vet Hunters Project was founded by Joe Leal, an Iraq combat veteran. Joe is also a good friend of our team and a past client, and we were honored to help him with his own home loan.
An honor we didn't expect
We received a California State Senate Certificate of Recognition from Senator Susan Rubio, 22nd District, for our support of the stand down. The certificate thanks us for our "spirit of service and solidarity with our nation's heroes." We're grateful, and the credit belongs to every veteran and volunteer who showed up.
Why we were there
We help veterans and military families buy homes, and we show up for them outside the office too. Our booth was a place to ask homebuying questions in plain words: how to request a Certificate of Eligibility, whether a VA benefit can be used again, and what to have ready.
If you'd like to support veterans in the San Gabriel Valley, you can learn more or donate at vethunters.org.
The Brandon Drew Group helped Joe with his home loan while our team was with another mortgage company, before we joined New American Funding.
The Brandon Drew Group, a division of New American Funding, LLC, NMLS #6606 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Branch NMLS #2882133. Equal Housing Lender. This is not a commitment to lend. Photos taken by our team at the 7th Annual Heroes in the Shadows Stand Down, El Monte VFW Post 10218, October 17, 2026.
