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AGENDA
CITY OF SEBASTIAN
VETERANS ADVISQ(jy BOARD MEETING
MONDAY. A L 4TH. 2022
3:00 PM
1) CALL TO ORDER
2) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3) ROLL CALL
4) MEETING CHAIR MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS
5) AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
Modifications and additions require unanimous vote of members. Deletions do not apply.
6) APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
January 10", 2022 Meeting Minutes
7) UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
8) PUBLIC INPUT
9) NEW BUSINESS:
Item A: Memorial Day Event Plan
Item B: July 0 Parade Participation Discussion
10) STAFF MATTERS
11) BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEMBER MATTERS
12) ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA AND DATE: August 1., 2022 @ 3:00pm
13) ADJOURN
ANYPERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL AM DECISION WIDE WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT THIS MEETING (OR HEARING) WILL NEED RECORD
OF THE PROCEEDINGSAND MAY NEED TO ENSURETIWTA VERRATM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MFOE, WHIM RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND
EWDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE HEARD. (286.0105 F.S.)
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEAMERICANS WITH DISABHmCSACT(ADA), ANYONE WHO NEEDS SPECMLACCOMMODA90N FOR Nis MEETING SHOULD CONTACT
THE QTY s ADA COORDINATOR AT 589-5330 AT LEAST" HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING.
Board Meetin pate.
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Recommendation:
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VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2022, 3:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1225 MAIN ST., SEBASTIAN FL 32976
I. Acting Chairman Neil Baumgartner called the Veterans Advisory Committee
meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
II. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
III. Present
Gary Shaw, VFW Commander (late arrival)
Neil Baumgartner, VFW Member
Kim Paskiewicz, VFW Auxiliary Member
Gary Spiecker, American Legion Member
Stephen Hamerlin, American Legion Member
Also Present
Fred Jones, Vice Mayor, City of Sebastian
John Kinlen
Rick Lewis
Brian Benton, Director of Leisure Services
Joseph Perez, AV Technician
Janet Graham, Technical Writer
IV. Meeting Chair Makes Announcements — None
V. Aaenda Modifications -- None
VI. Aooroval of Minutes — December 6. 2021
Hearing no corrections/additions from the Committee members, Acting Chairman
Baumgartner called for a motion. A motion approving the Minutes of the December 6,
2021 meeting as presented was made by Mr. Hamerlin, seconded by Mr. Spiecker, and
approved unanimously via voice vote.
VII. Unfinished Business — None
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 2
MINUTES OF MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2022
Vill. Public Input
Peter Puzzo, Sons of the American Legion, Sebastian. He informed the Veterans
Advisory Committee that the Sons of the American Legion in Sebastian are going to be
moving forward with a request to approve a new monument to be erected at Riverview
Park in the area of the Circle of Honor. It would not be part of the main Circle; it would
be off to the right side as one faces the American flags. It would be a stone very similar
to the monuments already there, but his group would like to have it dedicated to the
82,000+ Americans who are still unaccounted for and considered POWs and MIAs. He
is asking for the Committee's support in this endeavor before he presents it to the
Sebastian City Council. Once the approval is obtained to go ahead, he will have all the
numbers and other information, and he will come back at that point with what the cost will
be, etc. Raising the funds necessary will be done through his organization. Thus, it will
cost the City nothing otherthan whatever maintenance that is normally done around those
monuments.
Mr. Hamerlin asked for an estimate of what something like that would cost. Mr. Puzzo
stated that he has no idea at this time. He will be working with the City Manager and Mr.
Benton to find out what those costs have been in the past. He estimated it would be a
few thousand dollars. He added that it is planned to take the grommets from the American
flags that will be and have been retired at the Post, have them melted down and made
into stars to be put on that monument in order to show our generations and future
generations that our flag never dies but lives on. He stated that the inscription would be
POWs/MIAs, in memory of all prisoners of war missing in action. He would like to have
the POW insignia etched or chiseled onto the monument. During the year there are two
particular days—POW/MIA Remembrance Day in September and in April there is the
POW/MIA Family Day when members can go out and renew the flags that are in front of
it. It was the consensus of the Board that this project should move forward.
Mr. Rick Lewis reminded everyone that on February 5' , 2022 there will be the Council
picnic, which is free for all veterans in Indian River County. It will be at the fairgrounds
with entertainment and food. The event starts at 11:00 a.m.
IX. New Business
A. 2022 Veterans' Events and Responsibilities Discussion
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 3
MINUTES OF MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2022
Mr. Benton reviewed that at the last meeting it was discussed bringing forth the 2022 list
of veterans' events and the responsibilities to ensure that each organization knows which
events they are responsible for planning. In the agenda packet for this meeting he
included a list of the veterans' events for 2022 (SEE ATTACHED). He did not include
Wreaths Across America. That is run typically by Rick Lewis who comes to the City and
oversees that one. If it is something that the Board wants to get more involved in, he can
add that event as well. He called attention to the Patriot Day Ceremony, which in the past
was started by the veterans and later was turned over to the Sebastian Police Department
to organize. In speaking with the Chief, Mr. Benton was told that the Police Department
is going to let him know whether they are going to work with the County to have an event
in Vero similar to what they had planned last year. There have been some discussions
about joining it with the Tunnel to Towers 5K race along with a larger 9-11 ceremony that
would include all of the law enforcement within the County, including the Sebastian Police
Department. So that may come back to this Board for oversight. He needs to know who
is going to be responsible for the events on this list with question marks.
It was suggested that when events are being held at the Veterans Memorial, it is difficult
for those with the Honor Guard to hear what is being said, and maybe an additional
speaker could be installed there. Mr. Benton stated the City can take care of that.
(AT THIS POINT, MR. SHAW JOINED THE MEETING.)
Mr. Hamerlin stated that at last week's Veterans Council meeting in Vero there was
discussion regarding some items that had been brought to their attention. One is the
Puppies for Life project. He will make copies of the information for dissemination. The
annual golf tournament of the American Legion is on February 26". Rick Lewis stated
the golf tournament will be held at Highland Pines. All the proceeds from this event go to
Veterans Relief, which is an American Legion program to help veterans get reconditioned
back into society. Mr. Hamerlin also discussed a registered nurse who is associated with
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of the Treasure Coast. He informed the group
that there is a whole host of services available, both hospital stays and outside
rehabilitation services available. He will pass that information on also. Mr. Shaw stated
Encompass Health is a registered hospital so that they have direct admission. The
veteran does not have to come from another hospital like is necessary at other rehabs or
nursing homes. You only need a doctor's referral.
There was general discussion regarding which organizations will be in charge of which
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAGE 4
MINUTES OF MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2022
events in 2022. Mr. Shaw stated the Memorial Day event will probably be organized by
the Legion, Post 189. Regarding the July 4U event, Mr. Benton stated that at 8:00 a.m.
there is a small ceremony at the Veterans Memorial that had been organized in the past.
Peter Puzzo stated that in the past Norman Meyer with the Lions Club organized the 8:00
a.m. ceremony. He discussed how this ceremony has been done in the past. Mr. Benton
stated that Dr. Meyer will handle the organization of that ceremony. Mr. Shaw stated that
Veterans Day will be handled by the VFW this year, and Pearl Harbor Day will be handled
by the American Legion.
X. Staff Matters — None
XI. Board or Committee Member Matters
Mr. Baumgartner asked the Vice Mayor, Mr. Jones, if he had anything to add. Mr. Jones
thanked everyone for their service and their support.
XII. Items for the Next Aaenda and Date: Aoril 4.2022 at 3:00 o.m.
XIII. Adjournment
There being no further business, Chairman Shaw adjourned the meeting at 3:22 p.m.
By: Date: