VETERANS MEMORIAL ISLAND SANCTUARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, March 1, :00 a.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, Vero Beach, Florida

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1 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) February 1, PUBLIC COMMENT 5. NEW BUSINESS VETERANS MEMORIAL ISLAND SANCTUARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, March 1, :00 a.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, Vero Beach, Florida AGENDA A. from Mr. Rob Grisar Visitor to Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Update by Next Generation Veterans 7. CHAIRMAN S MATTERS 8. MEMBER S MATTERS 9. NEXT MEETING DATE A) Next Meeting Date April 5, ADJOURNMENT This is a Public Meeting. Should any interested party seek to appeal any decision made by the Committee with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, they will need a record of the proceedings and that, for such purpose, they may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Anyone who needs a special accommodation for this meeting may contact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator at at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

2 VETERANS MEMORIAL ISLAND SANCTUARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday, February 1, :00 a.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, Vero Beach, Florida PRESENT: Chairman, John Matthews, Vice Chairman, Alma Lee Loy; Members: Barbara Fallon, Alternate Member #1, Don Wickstrand and Alternate Member #2, Sylvester Mcintosh Also Present: Public Works Manager, Don Dexter; Recreation Director, Rob Slezak, and Senior Administrative Assistant, Rita Hawkins Excused Absences: Joel Herman and Curtis Paulisin 1. CALL TO ORDER Today's meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Committee members and the audience joined together in the Pledge ofallegiance to the flag. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) January 4, 2017 Ms. Loy made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2017 Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Advisory Committee meeting. Ms. Fallon seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT None 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Next Generation Veterans - Boots on the Ground Memorial Presentation - Mr. Patrick Williamson, Jr. Mr. Patrick Williamson Jr., stated that he moved to Vero Beach about four (4) years ago from Indiana. He was with the Indiana National Guard for six (6) years while he lived there and in 2004 he was deployed to Iraq. He said he came to today's meeting to talk about a project he is putting together and he is hoping to get approval from the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Advisory Committee. He thinks it will be a nice addition to the current Veteran ceremonies. He hopes it will engage the younger generation and give them more of a perspective on the current Iraq/Afghanistan war. It is important for the younger generations to see what this war has cost them. This project will be a great visual representation to honor those who have fallen and to show the public the cost they have paid for freedom. His proposal is called Boots on the Ground Memorial and it was started several years after 9/11 by active duty installations. He continued by giving a Power Point presentation on the Boots on the Ground Memorial (on file in the City Clerk's office). He explained that this tribute is not a permanent structure, nor will it ever be. It is a display that will be put 1, 7 1

3 together for a ceremony or military remembrance and it consists ofmilitary boots with flags in them. To date, 6,822 service members have lost their lives since 9/11. At large military installations the boots have a card attached to the front that includes a picture and the name of a fallen service member. He will be starting out on a much smaller scale and instead of attaching a photo and name, each boot will represent several service members. His initial goal was to obtain about 70 boots, so each boot would represent about 100 service members. The only support he will accept is the donation of boots to use for the display. It is not to promote any organization or business, but the donors will be recognized in the program. The boots can be loaned to him, or they can be donated for use in future displays. He explained that this display has never been done on a smaller scale like this, so Vero Beach will be pioneering one ofthe first smaller displays. He believes that as the community experiences this memorial display it will grow. Mr. Mcintosh asked ifthe boots will be displayed all year round, or only during certain ceremonies. Mr. Williamson explained that the boots will only be displayed at ceremonies. He would like to have the first display take place this year on Memorial Day and then he can explore other events. For Memorial Day he would like to set up the display the night before if the weather is permitting. The boot display will be guarded overnight by Army Privates. After the ceremony the boots will be picked up and moved off the Island. His goal is to grow this display every year. He also wants to motivate the next generation Veterans to become more active and involved in future engagements. He continued with the Power Point presentation and commented that the boots will not all look the same just as the service members were not the same. He anticipates this program will grow and he will be asked to put up this display several times a year throughout Indian River County. There are several military surplus stores that sell boots for anyone who would like to purchase boots to be donated. Mr. Wickstrand asked how many boots have been donated so far. Mr. Williamson reported that he currently has 24 pairs of boots, but now he would like to obtain 70 sets of boots to start with. With a total of 140 boots each one (1) will represent about 50 military service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice. He explained that in talking with Colonel Sam Kouns, President of the Veterans Council of Indian River County, about this display, he suggested setting it up around the ceremonial circle in front ofthe stage for the Memorial Day ceremony. Mr. Matthews asked if the Ceremonies Committee has addressed or talked about the display. Mr. Williamson replied that Colonel Kouns is addressing the Committee now, but he indicated there should be no problem with them approving it. Mr. Matthews suggested that if this does take place on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary it would be better to have the boots in a formation on the grass rather than around the sidewalk, because the sidewalk and circle are used during the ceremony. Mr. Williamson said if it is in front ofthe stage it will probably be in a rectangular formation in front ofthe audience watching the ceremony. Mr. Matthews asked where will he store 7,000 boots if it grows that large. Mr. Williamson explained that he has access to a storage area and the boots will be stored in footlockers to keep them out ofthe elements. He said he will see how fast the program grows, but he might find out that 500 boots will be enough for him to handle and he might stop there. 1, 7 2

4 Mr. Matthews asked if the Veterans Council has approved this project. Mr. Williamson said that he had a meeting with Colonel Kouns and he gave him the go ahead to start collecting the boots. Ms. Loy asked Mr. Rob Slezak, Recreation Director, if he had a chance to look at any locations for this display, or any special recommendations. Mr. Slezak replied that he has not, but he does not see any issues with this display. Mr. Don Dexter, Public Works Manager, stated that setting it up in the ceremonial circle might work for now, but as the display grows they will need to find another location. Ms. Loy said this is an energetic project, but it will be worthwhile to him and the public. Mr. Williamson said he agrees that it is very ambitious, but it is a good project for him. He feels that this is something he can start and maybe volunteers will pour in later. He said he realizes that at some point the younger Veterans will be taking over and become more involved with Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary as the older generation steps back. As he looked around the Island he said he could see this display fitting in very well. He was hoping to get a motion of support from the Committee, so that he will have something to take back to the Veterans Council. Ms. Loy sated at this point, the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Advisory Committee encourages Mr. Williamson to move ahead with the project. Once he gets the approval from Colonel Kouns, the others involved, and the statistics of the exact location then the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Advisory Committee will approve it 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Report on Vietnam Traveling Wall Memorial Mr. Matthews reported that he attended the events at the Vietnam Traveling Wall and it was a great show. He was able to enjoy some of the gun show and the exhibits. He also heard the Silver War group blast the cannons and he seen some of the names of the men he went to Vietnam with on the wall. He was surprised how technical the Vietnam Wall display has become. There was a computer available where people could find information about individuals based on the branch of service, name, location, dates, military unit, etc. Mr. Mcintosh commented that he liked how it was broken down and that there was a panel on the truck that listed the eight (8) service men from Indian River County who are on the wall. He announced that a Vietnam traveling wall will also be at Wickham Park in Brevard County from the end ofapril through the first part ofmay. It will be there for the Vietnam Veterans reunion, which is one ofthe largest military reunions in the country. B. Report on the Presentation of Medals to Mr. Fred Sylvia Mr. Matthews reported that the presentation of the medals to the Sylvia family was an appropriate ceremony for Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary. He explained that Mr. Sylvia's father wanted to be buried with his combat medals from World War II, but while living in an assisted living facility the medals were stolen. A corrections officer handling the case took it upon himself to get the medals reissued and he flew to Vero Beach to present them to the family. < 1 3 '

5 Mr. Young said that having the opportunity to be a part of the presentation of the medals was amazing. They had three (3) generation of family members there to witness and hear the story of their grandfathers or great-grandfathers service to the country. While he was reading Mr. Sylvia's fathers account of the decorations he had received he noticed that he had also received the Combat Infantry Badge. The Veterans Council obtained a brand new Combat Infantry Badge and they will present it to Mr. Sylvia as well. 7. CHAIRMAN'S MATTERS None 8. MEMBER'S MATTERS Mr. Dexter reported that they received all ofthe bids for the Palm Tree Replacement Project and they will be scheduling the work. The new trees are being paid for out of the tree mitigation funds, so there is no cost to the Veterans Memorial Island account. They should have it completed within the next days. Mr. Matthews asked where are the trees located. Mr. Dexter explained that the 12 Queen Palms lining the walkway from the flagpole to the ceremonial circle on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary will be replaced with Ribbon Palms. Mr. Slezak reported that Colonel Marty Zickert called him about a Veteran who might be passing very soon. The family would like to have a ceremony on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary, so once he has the information he will submit a request form to use the Island. 9. NEXT MEETING DATE A) Next Meeting Date - March 1, 2017 The next meeting of the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Advisory Committee is scheduled for March 1, ADJOURNMENT Today's meeting adjourned at 10:42 a.m. /rh 17 4

6 Hawkins, Rita From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Young, Anthony W Tuesday, February 14, :59 PM Hawkins, Rita Bursick, Tammy FW: veterans memorial park Rita, This should be addressed in the coming VMIS meeting. Please be sure to inform the Committee. John Michael Matthews and Alma Lee should be informed immediately if not already done so. Tammy may have done it without any prompting. My response is provided below for the record. Tony From: Young, Anthony W Sent: Tuesday, February 14, :44 PM To: O'Connor, Jim; Bursick, Tammy Subject: FW: veterans memorial park Jim and Tammy, I need to make a correction to the earlier . to be reverent. I just read through the error in my haste. Revert was meant Tony From: Young, Anthony W Sent: Tuesday, February 14, :01 PM To: Bursick, Tammy; O'Connor, Jim Cc: Young, Anthony W Subject: RE: veterans memorial park Tammy and Jim, I visit the Sanctuary often and am always impressed by the revert regard it is given. Since the beginning, Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary has been a place set aside to pay tribute to all veterans. The "Lest We Forget" Monument states with no distinction that it is in remembrance of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Having served as an Army veteran for 30 years, as President of the Veterans Council and Chair of the Sanctuary Committee, we consider the Island ours without preference to any. The 78 men recognized with memorial markers on the island are from all faiths. The Jewish War Veterans have been part of the Veterans Council that has participated in patriotic ceremonies on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary consistently. The accounts of all servicemen have been a hallmark of refuge. The nation's colors speaks to one nation united. Memorials to World War II, the Purple Heart, the POW and MIA, the Korean War and Vietnam War all attest to that spirit. Alex MacWilliam, a World War I hero and founder, joined by the City of Vero Beach, Indian River County and the community, always considered it as a place of honor for veterans no matter the race, creed or origin. Hopefully the larger sense of the Sanctuary will help to allay Mr. Grisar's concerns. The refuge is inclusive of all that gave to this great nation. I appreciate that he visited the Island and voiced his observation. I am very grateful for his service and that of his

7 father. Having lived in Germany and haven been raised by a Jewish mother, I understand first-hand the imperative of religious freedom. We care. Tony Young, Colonel, US Army (Ret) City Councilman From: Bursick, Tammy Sent: Tuesday, February 14, :31 AM To: Young, Anthony W Subject: FW: veterans memorial park From: Vonada, Joyce Sent: Tuesday, February 14, :16 AM To: Bursick, Tammy; Coment, Wayne Subject: FW: veterans memorial park from: Vonada, Joyce Sent: Monday, February 13, :35 AM To: O'Connor, Jim Subject: FW: veterans memorial park From: Rob Grisar [mailto:robgrisar@yahoo.com] Sent: Saturday, February 11, :37 PM To: Vonada, Joyce Subject: veterans memorial park Sir, my wife and I are today having the great pleasure ofvisiting your beautiful city. Among other stops on our trip was a visit to your Veterans Memorial Park. It's lovely a place that is a sober reminder ofall who have sacrificed for our country. Well, that's not exactly accurate, because it only honors Christian veterans as boldly shown on the entrance monument. My father served in the Pacific as a Marine in World War II. But he was Jewish so apparently you folks don't care about his service. I served in the Air Force during Vietnam. Again, you folks don't care. All the veterans who have served through the centuries seem to not matter to the city ofvero beach unless they were Christian. I am deeply insulted by your city's obvious religious bias against non-christian veterans. Regards, Rob Grisar USAF Veteran

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