2007-03-15 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 March 15, 2007 Chairman Highley thanked former member Louis Kaoiwi for his many years of dedicated service to the committee and for remaining long beyond the call of duty awaiting a replacement. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Veterans Cemetery II - Concerns Expressed by Mary Yoshida Keith Ribbentrop of the Office of Veterans Services stated that Mary Yoshida who shared concerns with committee months ago about the items left at Veterans Cemetery II such as pinwheels, statutes, artificial flowers, loose bricks, articles of clothing, etc. is very upset that it is continuing. She would like to bring it to the committee's attention, hoping to resolve this problem. Chairman Highley said matter would be discussed under Unfinished Business. Graveliners for All Veterans Cemeteries Mr. Louis Kaoiwi asked committee to be sure and follow up on the issue of graveliners - that it should be the same for all Veterans Cemeteries and not just for Kaneohe and Kona. Chairman Highley said he wrote a summary of the February 20't' meeting held at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, which includes information on graveliners and lawn crypts. He will discuss further under Unfinished Business. PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES — January 25, 2007 • The minutes of the January 25, 2007 meeting were approved as submitted. The meeting for February was cancelled because there was no quorum. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island Representative Mr. Herring Kalua Mr. Kalua submitted a 4 page written report. Copies will be transmitted with the Minutes of this meeting. Please review and share any concerns at the next meeting. Mr. Kalua did not want to summarize to avoid misinterpreting what is in the report. The OVS Director asked him to reiterate the commitment of the Office of Veterans Services to well placed restroom at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, however, procurement of the restroom is subject to approval and funding. Graveliners Mr. Kalua responded to Mr. Kaoiwi that liners will be provided for West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery and is unsure about the rest of the cemeteries, however, he did request liners for all Veteran Cemeteries throughout the state. He spoke to Representative Cindy Evans who is working with the Director, he asked that they be sure to include all State Veterans Cemeteries. Chairman Highley said he understood at the meeting that the County was going to pay for the liners. Mr. Kalua responded that he isn't sure what they were going to do, but he