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Home My WebLink About2008-10-16 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, October 16, 2008, 3:00 p.m. Prosecutor's Office (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Present Absent Members Carolle Brulee- Wilson Penny Fox Edward Lee George Mukai Delbert Nishimoto Norman Stahl George Yamamoto John Young Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Antonio Gaspar Minoru Hanato Richard Highley Robert Welter Guests (Kona) Boss Hanato Tom Leone Ex- Officio (Hilo) Pamela Mizuno Deputy Director, P &R Joseph Flores (OVS) Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Secretary Herring Kalua, State Veterans Advisory Board - EH Representative Herbert Lum, State Veterans Advisory Board - WH Representative Don Bennett Wendall Kekumu Gilbert Sampaia Call to Order Chairwoman Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm - (12) members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Obituaries - Flag Photo for all Veterans Mr. Leone asked the status of the request Chairwoman Fox submitted to newspapers to insert a flag on all Veterans obituaries. Chairwoman Fox said she's been unsuccessful in contacting Mr. David Bock - of the Hawaii Tribune Herald and suggested others also try to contact him. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 October 16, 2008 Mr. Leone said he's been getting the run around from the newspapers about getting the mortuaries involved. Chairwoman Fox said the mortuaries are involved, all have contacted her except one expressing their support and stated they are just waiting for final word to begin process. The newspapers have not given an answer and she would like a response, even if they say they can't do it. PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES — September 18, 2008 The minutes of the September 18, 2008 meeting were approved as submitted. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island - East Hawaii Representative Mr. Herring Kalua Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Herring Kalua - Report Veterans Cemeteries I and II Columbariums Mr. Kalua said the columbariums for Veterans Cemeteries I and II are being worked on and there is funding for it. Artificial Flowers He also reported that the State Veterans Advisory Board is working on revising their administrative rules regarding artificial flowers since the State Veterans Cemetery is also having problems with that. Mr. Herb Lum - Report Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Expansion Proiect Update Mr. Lum reported that the Phase II -C contract has been approved by Veterans Administration and DAGS is processing the contract and obtaining permits. The project will commence upon receipt of the building permits. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 October 16, 2008 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Reforestation Proiect Mr. Gaspar reported that Mr. Van Dyke of Greenwell Nursery would be replacing the two dead trees alongside the road and finishing roadside planting. The irrigation system will be checked and adjusted. Gary Kawakami brought a crew to pull weeds and do some planting. On November 18th the Kealakehe High School Citizenship Class will do some planting. According to Dr. Stevens the project is doing well. (Dr. Richard Stevens submitted a written report dated October 16, 2008 - copy attached.) Chairwoman Fox said Dr. Stevens would be submitting monthly Reforestation Reports to the committee. He has said the trees have to be planted for three years before they can be in harsh weather. NEW BUSINESS Membership - Dr. Stevens Resigned Chairwoman Fox announced that Dr. Stevens resigned from this committee, so the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization will have to submit a recommendation for a replacement. EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS None ANNOUNCEMENTS West Hawaii Civic Center - Ground Blessing Mayor's Office sent an invitation for members to attend a ground blessing on Saturday, October 25th at 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the construction site of the West Hawaii Civic Center located at Kealakehe Parkway in Kona. There will be refreshments and a light lunch following the ceremony. West Hawaii members confirmed they received the invitation. US Missouri Memorial Association - Veterans Day Ceremony Mr. Richard Highley announced that he received an invitation for the committee to attend a Veterans Day Ceremony on the US Battleship Missouri on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th from 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 October 16, 2008 Pre - placed Crypts - Sacramento Valley National Cemetery to Expand Mr. Minoru Hanato shared an article relating to the expansion of the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery to include 6,900 pre - placed crypts. He feels the article is double talk since the staff of Veterans Administration told the Kona Veterans they don't recognize pre - placed crypts in the ground and yet they will put them in at two cemeteries in Sacramento. He just wanted to let committee members know. Veterans Cemetery II - West Hawaii - Use of Equipment Mr. Hanato asked to borrow County's equipment to move materials such as cinders and the concrete urn vaults. Because of the expansion project, lots of materials will need to be moved out of the way. Volunteers will be putting in their own fuel and servicing equipment just as they have in the past. Deputy Director Mizuno asked if there was a time schedule. Mr. Hanato responded they would like to start moving materials soon because the next phase of the expansion project will begin in November or December. The machine has been at the Old Kona Airport for the past year, however, it should be at the Cemetery now because there was a burial yesterday. He would like to use machine before it gets moved again. Deputy Director Pam Mizuno said she would check on it and let him know. Elections Chairwoman Fox initially requested to put Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman on next month's agenda, however, Mr. Highley said that according to Code the term is for two years. There will not be an election at the November meeting. Meeting Days for 2009 Mr. Norman Stahl asked if the meeting days for 2009 would continue to be on the third Thursday of the month because the Vice - Chancellor he works for has said their meetings will be held at that same time. Chairwoman Fox said meetings have been held on the third Thursday for many years and if he's unable to attend, members will understand. She said to add on next month's agenda a discussion relating to meeting times for 2009. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on November 20, 2008 at 3pm. Meeting will again be held in Hilo at the Office of the Prosecutor and in Kona at the Mayor's Office. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:18 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Santos, Secretary