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Home My WebLink About2009-06-18 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, June 18, 2009, 3:00 p.m. Prosecutor's Office (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Present Absent Members Don Bennett Carolle Brulee- Wilson Penny Fox Edward Lee Delbert Nishimoto George Yamamoto Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Antonio Gaspar Minoru Hanato Robert Welter Guests (Hilo) Keith Ribbentrop (State Veterans Home) Guests (Kona) Alfredo Tobias Ronald A. Cole Ex- Officio (Hilo) Robert Fitzgerald, Director, P &R Clayton Honma, Deputy Director, P &R Joseph Flores, OVS Ex- Officio (Kona) None Also Present (Hilo) Denie Quitoriano, Secretary (TA) Herring Kalua (State Veterans Advisory Board - E. HI Rep) Herb Lum, (State Veterans Advisory Board - W. Hawaii Rep) Wendall Kekumu George Mukai Gilbert Sampaia Norman Stahl John Young Call to Order Chairwoman Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm - (9) members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 June 18, 2009 PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES — May 21, 2009 The minutes of the May 21, 2009 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. Lum - NO REPORT Mr. Kalua - State Veterans Advisory Board - Hawaii Island - EH Rep. Mr. Kalua reported that this will be his last meeting since his term has ended on the State Veterans Advisory Board, Norman Stahl will be his replacement. Chairwoman Fox said Mr. Stahl is a member of this committee and is unable to attend the monthly meetings as scheduled. Mr. Kalua said Mr. Stahl will hopefully be able to attend the meetings on Oahu. He shared that he enjoyed serving on the board, serving everyone and happy that the State Veterans Home is certified and ready for patients. He's also happy that the various phases of construction of the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery is continuing. He wanted to ask Norman Stahl to be sure the columbariums are built at Veterans I and II. He knows that Mr. Lum will also play a role in assuring its built. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Reforestation Proiect (Dr. Richard Stevens submitted a written report dated June 2009 - copy attached.) Chairwoman Fox asked if members had a chance to read report and asked if there were any questions. Proposed Peace Garden Mr. Hanato introduced guest Ronald Cole, Vice President of the Korean War Veterans Association and Secretary of the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Association who wanted to add to Dr. Stevens report. Mr. Cole shared proposal by the Veterans Cemetery Association to plant a Peace Garden on the east side hill of the Committal Shelter. Kaz Shigezawa donated his time free of charge to draw sketch. He also designed the entrance of the cemetery years ago. In 2004 the graveyard needed improvements so they set up a committee to improve it. Members are still working on it and cemetery is currently undergoing a lot of construction. Committee also requests funds from the federal government. Chairwoman Fox said she would refer request to P &R Director Fitzgerald since she doesn't know the ruling on whether or not they can build it. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 June 18, 2009 Director Fitzgerald said he would look over proposal (Preliminary sketch of Peace Garden) and report about it at the next meeting. He will first check if everyone is in agreement with proposal, and if it fits in with intent of what we want to see done at the cemetery. Chairwoman Fox said that works for the committee. Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Recommendation on Location Markers for Gravesites/Maps Director Fitzgerald said he went through department files, spoke to maintenance staff and called John Grogan of the WHVCDEA, relating to concern that there may not be an accurate map of the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. He will schedule a meeting to review records and discuss this after John Grogan returns from vacation. Meeting would include veterans and Parks maintenance staff to go over list of gravesites. There are plot numbers and a list, but nothing concrete. He requested copies of any documents people may have to go over it and see what available records reflect. Mr. Hanato said that's good because his list and the P &R list is different. Director Fitzgerald said the second phase should be okay, but would like to review the first phase. He is most concerned about plots that still don't have markers. Mr. Lum said when Area #1 was sodded and became green, all the markers were marked in ink on the lower right hand corner with the alpha numeric location. He has the complete list of the markings alpha /numeric by individual and alphabetical by individual for the 284 that's interred right now, but information may not be as accurate as we add on. The information he has would be a good starting point because there are 284 interments recorded. Director Fitzgerald asked if everyone would provide copies of whatever records they have. Mr. Lum said he would drop off a copy of the records he has. Chairwoman Fox said the meeting is a good idea and to let her know if she's needed. Mr. Nishimoto said when a cemetery is built, there should be a map with the size of the plots. Kona had issues because they take the caskets out and also because there were times where the walls would collapse. So its not in line and its not only Kona, in Hilo Veterans I and II the curbside to the start of the first grave is pretty far, but when you look at the federal funds it specifically states how many plots should be there. In the future, if you ask for more cemeteries, there may not be federal funds. There should be a construction plan and start from there. Mr. Lum said at Cemetery I there are big gaps in the rows because they ran into problems trying to dig down. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 June 18, 2009 Chairwoman Fox said they ran into blue rock and didn't have the proper equipment to dig it. Mr. Nishimoto said if they skip a plot, they should go back and use the plot with blue rock for urn burials cause an urn doesn't have to be covered. Chairwoman Fox said they are having the same problems at Veterans Cemetery III with either hitting rock or the graves caving in. Director Fitzgerald will schedule a meeting, review records and report back to committee. NEW BUSINESS None EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS CEMETERY REVIEW FORMS Mr. Joseph Flores said he received an email regarding cemetery review forms from OVS Director Mark Moses and asked if anyone else received them. No one received forms so he will send to Chairwoman Fox and she will get it out to members through Nathalie. Mr. Flores said he also received last years forms as a guide and will include those. ANNOUNCEMENTS VETERANS HOME - HILO Chairwoman Fox congratulated Keith Ribbentrop of the Veterans Home for receiving certification. Mr. Ribbentrop announced that as of close of business today, there are now 69 residents in the home. EMPLOYMENT SERVICE FOR VETERANS Ms. Brulee- Wilson announced that there would be an Employment Services for Veterans meeting tomorrow, June 19th at loam in Hilo. There are several agencies and individuals that will be discussing employment services for veterans. She will be attending the meeting and it should be fine if anyone is interested in dropping in. GROUNDBREAKING - KMR Mr. Kalua said there would be a groundbreaking ceremony at KMR (National Guard area) tomorrow at loam in Hilo for constructing the veterans services building which will include the Veterans Center. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 5 June 18, 2009 Mr. Nishimoto said that project is called BRACK refocus or rearrangement of the forces, consolidating everyone. OVS office may also relocate there. Mr. Flores said the OVS Office should be ready in the next two years. Mr. Nishimoto said it's a huge 55 million dollar project. They will be knocking down and renovating the whole area. They will consolidate Army Reserve, National Guard, Marines, TSA, etc.. It will help provide an easier response system to natural disasters. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 3pm at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office conference room. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:23 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Santos, Secretary