2009-02-19 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Page 6 February 19, 2009 Mr. Flores asked if the movement has been contracted. Mr. Lum said his understanding is that it's being sub - contracted by a mainland firm under the Willocks Contract. Chairwoman Fox said the concern is that if its not properly moved, there could be legal issues if the urns are damaged. Mr. Flores asked Mr. Fitzgerald if he has met with Department of Defense Director Mark Moses regarding the movement of the columbarium. Mr. Fitzgerald said he has not yet met Mr. Moses. He visited the cemetery on Sunday to familiarize himself of the project. Mr. Welter asked if we addressed this when we got everyone's permission to move the headstones at Veterans Cemetery III when the old section of the cemetery was resodded. Chairwoman Fox said we notified the families for that project, but this is a different matter. For that project, we notified the families that we would be moving the stones, resodding and then returning the stones to the exact same place. The current project involves moving the columbariums, which have urns in them to a new location. A private contractor will be moving them. Some religions or people would like to do something if their loved ones ashes are moved from one place to another. Mr. Welter asked if we need to obtain their permission. Chairwoman Fox said no, just notification, but families can then decide if they want to leave the urn in the columbariums, take urn home or have it buried prior to movement, depending on their cultural or religious belief. Families don't have an option to answer yes or no because there won't be a columbarium at that location, it will be the same columbarium moved to a different location at the cemetery. Mr. Hanato said Mr. Castagnetti and Mr. Moses of the Department of Defense told him when they remove urns from the niches, they will be taking photos and again taking photos when the urns are returned to the new niches. It will all be recorded. Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii - Designation of Gravesites Mr. Lum shared that Mr. Castagnetti pointed out the alpha /numeric system the veterans devised to locate gravesites at Veterans Cemetery III does not conform with National system, so a revision has to be made to conform with the national system. Unsure what national system is, but something about going right to left instead of left to right. This concern should be in the Tri- Annual Report, which has not yet been issued.