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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 16 or eight -inch depth from the backhoe. Those tires go right over the other grave and that looks really bad. When they came and did the project they did now, it was really embarrassing. They said we had to put the coffin down then throw gravel on top then jump inside and bounce on it until it packs at the same time, they're shooting hundreds of gallons of water then they throw in some more material, pack it down so it doesn't cave it. But the family sees that, that's terrible. A lot of time the families stay and wait until they finish and then they go put the flowers on the grave. That's something that went on few times at the meetings, and they gave some very embarrassing answers. One example is that they said they don't recognize that over here and then within a month some news comes from the Governor, San Francisco put in almost 6,000, 7,000 graves like that with concrete vaults. That's stupid for them to think we don't recognize that because at that time, in Kona we had three companies that could make the vaults right there, on the spot. But like I said they don't listen to us when we say those things, although they have all these meetings, they had it at the airport couple times, cemetery, office meetings. It was ridiculous. Anyway, I just though I'd throw in my two cents. One more thing, today we had another funeral this morning, we had to do everything like we did 20 years ago. We had to present the flag and everything because the military don't come anymore because of this COVID thing. The only one that come regularly is the National Guard from Hilo, but they only come for National Guard members and Army, they don't come for any other branch. The Air Force used to come, well all the branches used to come but now, only the Army is a regular and once in a while the Marines come. Other than that, only the Army come. It's been getting a little bit rough on us because our members are volunteer members are getting lower. Jim has presented quite a few flags already, we work together, American Legion and DAV because weapons belong to American Legion, but I take care of the weapons, DAV. So, they made me an honorary American Legion member, so thank you very much for that. Another thing that is really ridiculous to us Honor Guard members over here, the VA van, we raised the funds to buy the vans, not for the state to take it. Now they say because of legal things we cannot carry the weapons in the vans. We go to the Honor Guard. But I talk to the other branch of services, National Guard like that, they carry the weapons in the van, and they cannot carry in the car. What's happening now is we have to drive the members in the van, and I have to drive my own car and carry the weapons, because I cannot carry the weapons in the van. Both the military and DAV is under the federal thing. What's the scoop on that? I no can understand that. That's it. Thank you. Chair Doolittle: Thank you for that. Process and perception are important and sometimes we can't ignore that. Process seems to take over and not make any sense. Hopefully we can put that on the list and maybe we can address those things, make some positive changes in that. I just hate it when things look ridiculous, it's a catch 22 of regulation. Hanato: Can I say one more thing? We do honors not only at the Veterans Cemetery, we do it at any church. We don't do at schools or Hawaiian Homes because of legal things. But when we do outside, I notify everybody of interests like Police department, fire department, Harbor Master, DLNR and I do not call them. I personally go over and hand deliver to make sure they get the message.