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Minutes 11-14-07 VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2007 AT 10:00 A.M. CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM B, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Tom Kaiser, Chair Robert Zimmermann Morris Boruck David Buckner Lester McKenzie Stanley Gavlick, Alternate Chuck Magazine, City Liaison ABSENT: Thomas Krabill Karl Washington Stuart Preston I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Kaiser called the meeting to order at 10:18 a.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. III. INVOCATION Chair Kaiser gave the invocation. IV. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. V. AGENDA APPROVAL, November 14,2007 Motion Mr. Zimmermann moved to approve the agenda. Mr. Boruck seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, September 12, 2007 1 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida November 14, 2007 Motion Mr. Zimmermann moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Boruck seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VII. COMMENTS BY CHAIR Chair Kaiser announced they had a busy week and on Thursday signed for the contract for the monument. He distributed a drawing of a monument that will be used. The two center poles would have Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines emblems, and the two outer columns will have the American Legion emblem at the top and the Veterans of Foreign Wars on the other. The MIA emblem would be on both, since the two organizations contributed one third of the cost of the monument. Chair Kaiser thought the City emblem could be placed on the monument as well. Mr. Magazine suggested he contact Ms. Rivers from the Recreation and Parks Department. A Submarine Memorial was forthcoming. Chair Kaiser sent the Submarine Memorial plaque to Philadelphia to be cleaned and returned. The sale of bricks was discussed to help raise funds. The cost of the four by eight inch brick would be $50 and up to 14 letters and three lines per brick could be inscribed. Any left over proceeds would be turned in to the City. To-date, $32,200, has been raised and $10K had already been deposited into CD's a year ago for this, earning 5%. Chair Kaiser took care of the down payment and around February, the first CD would be cashed in and Mr. Kaiser reimbursed. He advised they would stretch out the funds as long as possible. At the monument, Chair Kaiser advised Congressman Klein donated a flag which will be the first flag flown. He explained they wanted to fly internment flags 24 hours per day and as they wore out, they will move on to the next flag. The City was purchasing a lighted flag pole 30 feet high. Members should refer individuals interested in having a flag flown to the Veterans Commission. It was anticipated the flags would be replaced every three months since internment flags are not weather resistant. Mr. Boruck advised he had two flags to donate. It was also noted Veterans needed to show discharge papers in order to receive the flag and each flag has been raised over the Capitol. Chair Kaiser thought instead of having the flag remaining in a draw, individuals may want to send it to them. The name of the deceased will be provided when the flag is flown. It was proposed a steel rod brace from the top of the monument columns (4) to the ground would secure the monument and it appeared the brace was included in the cost. The flag pole would be 30 ft and placed behind the stone. The target date for the monument dedication was June 6th. 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida November 14, 2007 VIII. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS None. IX. OLD BUSINESS: a. Veterans Memorial at Bicentennial Park Mr. Magazine advised Congressman Klein wanted to be present at the monument's dedication. b. Veterans' Day, November 11,2007 Chair Kaiser advised he was impressed with the turnout for the Veterans Day event. At one point the City contributed $100 for the effort. He thought if the Veterans Advisory Commission agreed, they should submit a bill for around $100 for the soda and hot dogs which were served at the event. Motion Mr. Zimmermann moved to ask the City for reimbursement of $100. Mr. Boruck seconded the motion which unanimously passed. There was a short discussion on the proper way to salute the flag. This was recently changed. Chair Kaiser advised a regular hand salute without a hat was acceptable as long as the individual was a veteran. There was also a discussion on the sacredness of the Flag. It was noted in parades, people do not cover their heart when the flag passed by. Chair Kaiser thought the public should be educated; he did not want to see that tradition forgotten. X. NEW BUSINESS: a. Four Chaplains Day, Sunday, February 3, 2008 Chair Kaiser advised everything was in place for the event; however, there would be a time change from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event would be at the Presbyterian Church. A flyer would be printed including the address of the church. Mr. Ben Epstein, a Pearl Harbor survivor, would be invited again. The ceremony should last about one hour. Chair Kaiser indicated it was a privilege to have Ben Epstein present and that coffee and cake would be supplied by the church. A letter would go out by the next meeting in January and the spring newsletter would highlight the upcoming events. 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, Florida November 14,2007 Mr. Magazine indicated Channel 18 on BBTV could have an announcement for the Veterans Day event, or other related activities. Announcements of events would air on a regular basis. Chair Kaiser noted for the members that Memorial Day was May 5th this year and the memorial dedication would follow about 12 days later. The monument would be arriving on April 1 st. Chair Kaiser thanked Mr. Magazine for his assistance with the Veteran's endeavors. It was noted there would be limited parking at the memorial site for the dedication. Chair Kaiser wanted to speak with CVS to see if they could accommodate the additional parking needs and Mr. Magazine offered to speak with the Recreation and Parks Department about bus service. Chair Kaiser thought about 150 people would attend. They may hold the function at about 3 p.m. He thought the children who helped put the flags out would be out of school by then and an invitation should be extended to them. Mr. Boruck wanted every home in Leisureville to have flags. Twelve couples volunteered to help place flags on about 1,000 homes. There are about 1,800 homes in Leisureville and he hoped all the homes would have flags on them on Veterans Day. XI. BENEDICTION, MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER Chair Kaiser gave the benediction. XII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss before the Commission, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:56 a.m. ~ (ttN}JJV-.t ClhVUf Catherine Cherry Recording Secretary 120507 4