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Minutes 09-09-09 MINUTES OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 AT 10:00 A.M. CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM B, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Thomas Kaiser, Chair Karl Washington Robert Zimmermann Stanley Gavlick, All. Rev. Richard Smith, Alt. Chuck Magazine, City Liaison ABSENT: Morris Boruck Thomas Krabill Lester McKinzie Stuart Preston Daryl Fuller, Alternate Donald Lee Scantlan, Alt. I. CALL TO ORDER - Tom Kaiser, Chairman Chair Kaiser called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - All Hands The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. III. INVOCATION - Designated Reverend Smith offered the invocation. IV. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. It was noted Daryl Fuller resigned. Mr. Magazine advised Mr. Fuller needed to submit his resignation in writing. V. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Mr. Gavlick moved to approve the agenda. Reverend Smith seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 9, 2009 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, May 13, 2009 Motion Reverend Smith moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Gavlick seconded the motion that unanimously passed. VII. COMMENTS BY CHAIR Chair Kaiser emphasized it was important the members attended the meetings. The meetings were scheduled in advance; therefore, members should work their schedules around the meetings. VIII. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS None. IX. OLD BUSINESS A. Memorial Day Observance, May 24th at Boynton Beach Cemetery Chair Kaiser thanked Mr. Magazine for his assistance. The observance went well and was held indoors. The only problem with having the observance inside was there was limited seating. B. New Pearl Harbor Monument at Veteran's Memorial, Bicentennial Park C. New World War I Monument at Veteran's Memorial, Bicentennial Park Chair Kaiser explained, in reference to the Pearl Harbor and World War I monuments, the Veteran's Council voted to have two separate ceremonies due to the different times in history. There would be a satellite monument in addition to the monument already at Bicentennial Park, and their goal was to have a monument for each war in the 20th Century. Chair Kaiser wrote to the President of France. At a meeting when National Leaders spoke about World War I, the President of France was the only attendee who recognized not only the hundreds of thousands that died in Europe, but that in World War I, over 100,000 American soldiers died in the trenches - particularly in the Argonne where the Lost Battalion was. The theme of the WW I monument was the Lost Battalion. The French Consul General will be coming to Boynton Beach and would honor 25 veterans who served in France by presenting them with Napoleon's medal called the Legion of Honor. Chair Kaiser submitted the names of six local veterans and he requested the members forward him the names of WW II veterans they knew so they could receive the Legion of Honor in the future. Chair Kaiser explained the veterans must have received a Battle Star and the front and rear cover of the DD214 Form must be submitted. Although the monument was to WW I, Chair Kaiser expressed honoring the WW II veterans at the ceremony was appropriate. The widows could also apply for the medal on behalf of their husbands. The VFW post would be notified of the opportunity to participate. The ceremony for WW I will be held on November 11,2009, at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 11 :00 a.m. As to the Pearl Harbor Monument, a ceremony will be held at 12:55 p.m. on December 7,2009, to coincide with the time zone in Hawaii of 7:55 p.m. for all those that died. There will be a firing squad, TAPS played, a short program, and then the monument will be unveiled. 2 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 9, 2009 Chair Kaiser will try to get chairs from Leisureville on November 11, but may need a truck to get the chairs to the site. Chuck Magazine, the Board Liaison, explained the park was not intended to be the park it was becoming. It was supposed to be a local park for the local residents to come and sit. There was no parking there because parking was not intended to be there. When events are held, it would be better if a shuttle bus transported patrons to the site, and he noted the more monuments will be placed there, the more parking would become an issue. Chair Kaiser explained a year from February, Desert Storm will be memorialized at the park. Apart from that, the park would only be used once a year. Mr. Magazine will advertise the ceremony on Boynton Beach TV. For Four Chaplains Sunday, they would have coffee and cake, and for the WW I and Pearl Harbor ceremonies, there would be no collations afterwards. Chair Kaiser also announced if an organization was interested in making a donation of $850 towards a monument, the Veterans Council would put up $650. The Veterans were paying $1,500 per monument and purchasing two at a time to save money. He urged the members to speak with their Chapters and if they had any monies available, they could pick a monument. He noted the American Legion already sponsored a monument. Chair Kaiser reviewed the Plan-o-Gram for the Federal Highway Circle. The first circle has two benches and he indicated they could ask the City to move them to the outer perimeter so it would be uniform. The monuments were from Lake Worth Monument and they would contact Recreation and Parks about the placement of the monuments. All wars would be represented with a monument. Chair Kaiser requested veterans volunteer their time to give tours of the park to school children. D. Sale of bricks at Veterans' Memorial, Bicentennial Park This item was addressed later in the meeting. E. Other None. X. New Business A. Veterans' Day Observance, November 11, 2009 This item was discussed with the Pearl Harbor and WW I Monuments. B. New Korean War Monument at Veterans' Memorial, Bicentennial Park The Korean War monument was projected for June 2010, which was the 60th Anniversary. C. New Vietnam War Monument at Veteran's Memorial, Bicentennial Park The Vietnam monument will be installed in the fall and celebrated on Veterans Day. D. Other 3 Meeting Minutes Veterans Advisory Commission Boynton Beach, FL September 9, 2009 Mr. Gavlick spoke about the Disabled American Veterans solicitations on the streets and Dave Bailey. The only time Mr. Gavlick speaks with him is when he happens to answer his phone. Of the two telephone numbers Mr. Gavlick was given, one number was disconnected. He was supposed to meet with him last week, but the meeting was rescheduled. If the matter could not be resolved, then they should not be issued any permits. Mr. Magazine explained if they meet the requirements set in the statute for the permit, then the permit had to be issued. The organization had promised the veterans they would receive 25% of the donations and they have not. Mr. Magazine suggested speaking to a newspaper reporter about it. A picture of the Korean Memorial was displayed, which was projected to be installed in June. All of the monuments at the park would match and would be etched in stone. Chair Kaiser asked for a motion to accept the artist's concept. He commented the Vietnam Memorial will also be the same. Mr. Magazine explained the item would be put on the agenda for approval by the City Commission in October. The monument would be at no cost to the City. Motion Mr. Zimmerman moved to accept the artist's concept of the Korean Memorial. Rev. Smith seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Discussion turned to the French Medal of Honor ceremony should be afforded TV coverage. Chair Kaiser pushed the bricks, and reiterated the members should urge their organizations to make donations toward the purchase of future monuments. He announced the Four Chaplains Day would be the first Sunday in February at St. Mark Church at 2:00 p.m. XI. Benediction, Moment of Silent Prayer XII. New Board Meeting - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. It was noted the next meeting would normally fall on Veteran's Day. Accordingly, the meeting date was changed. XIII. Adjournment Motion Mr. Gavlick moved to adjourn. Mr. Washington seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 10:43 a.m. {JG.J:iJJLiJ~_L (l&u.1 Catherine Cherry U Recording Secretary 100809 4