HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-08-16 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesPresent
Absent
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday, August 16, 2007, 3:00 p.m.
Hawaii County Council Room (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via
Videoconferencing)
Members
Don Bennett
Penny Fox
Edward Lee
Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing)
Members
Antonio Gaspar
Minoru Hanato
Robert Welter
Guests (Kona)
Boss Hanato
Herb Lum
Ex- Officio (Hilo)
Patricia Engelhard, Director, P &R
Also Present (Hilo)
Nathalie Santos, Secretary
Denny Austen
Richard Highley
Roy Hinokawa
Wendall Kekumu
George Mukai
Patrick Pavao
Gilbert Sampaia
Richard Stevens
George Yamamoto
Call to Order
• NO QUORUM - MEETING CANCELLED.
Chairman Highly was not present. Vice - Chairperson Penny Fox could not call the
meeting to order since there was no quorum — (6) members present and (9) are needed.
Wreaths Across America - Presentation
Joy Hofer (West Hawaii Liaison) and Barbara Cooper (East Hawaii Liaison) informed
committee members present about the Wreaths Across America Proj ect for all Big Island
Veterans Cemeteries. Last year program was held at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery
and this year they will expand it there and East Hawaii will be included.
East Hawaii Liaison Barbara Cooper shared that the Wreaths Across America Project
began at Arlington National Cemetery which received national publicity so others wanted
Veterans Advisory Committee
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August 16, 2007
to get involved. Civil Air Patrol is involved since it is a nationwide volunteer program
which has a youth cadet program. Organization will obtain sponsorship for these
wreaths, which will be sold for $15.00 each. Unsure how many wreaths they will be able
to have, depending on sponsorship. They will have a booth at the County Fair to seek
sponsorships. Will request from the County number of graves at Veterans Cemeteries on
the Big Island. Barbara asked members what they would like to see during the program
scheduled for December 15th at 12 noon, she has a sample script, but would like to add
more to it.
Barbara Cooper will be getting elementary and middle schools involved by first meeting
with principals at some of the schools. Some of the mainland schools created a study
program by having kids walk through cemetery, pick a name from one of the gravesites,
look it up on the internet to study about that person and how they served their country.
She may also contact the Boy Scouts for possible assistance and will be looking for a
refrigerator to store wreaths. She would also like to know how long the wreaths could
remain at the cemetery - in the Mainland they leave it until January.
West Hawaii Liaison Joy Hofer said she will not be seeking sponsorships this year
because she has too many things going on.
Announcements
Mr. Keith Ribbentrop of the Office of Veterans Services announced the following:
Robert Alameda of Hilo Intermediate School called, they will be hosting a "Patriots Day
Celebration" at the school between 8 am and 9 am on September 11th. If Veterans
Organizations would like to participate, contact him before August 30th at 974 -4955
Ext. 247.
Mr. Ribbentrop also announced that Colonel Marty Wong of the Armory National Guard
informed him that they began a Military Funeral Honors Program for all services, contact
Ph# 808 - 672 -1589 or mart__onggus. army. mail.
Water Usage at Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii
Mr. Minoru Hanato installed a 1" meter to see what the water usage is at the West Hawaii
Veterans Cemetery. He said they are using approximately 11,000 gallons per day.
Director Engelhard said that is a lot of water when we were allotted only 3,600 gallons
per day and haven't opened the other side or constructed restrooms yet. Mr. Hanato will
check again since it doesn't sound right.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2007.
Respectfully submitted,
Nathalie Santos, Secretary