Veterans Advisory Commission - Regular Meeting

Last off.

I'm calling to order this Veterans Advisory Commission meeting. Let's all stand. For the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Can we please have the roll call?

Sure. Mister Mickelson?

Here.

Mister Tomopoli?

Here.

Mister Suffolkl? Here. Mr. Hughes is absent. Mr. Burgess? Here. Alright.

Okay. We need to approve the minutes, for last month last week yeah. Last month,

I guess it is. Yeah. Any make a motion to

approve. Second. Motion approved. Okay. We were talking about unfinished business for last month on the Memorial Day details.

I know there was a message from Keith at MAPS, and he was looking at we had maybe four Jeeps or one Jeep, whatever we might need. The inquiry was is whether Jeep have enough room on a fender for our our advisory commission sign? And he was supposed to I thought might have somebody here today to give us some update on it, but obviously, it's not happening. So but we do have a chance of having a Jeep to So do we'll just keep working on that. Mike had talked I had talked to him, and then Mike had talked to him also and got an operations person for him who works for him that was going to line this up.

So I think that'll be okay. What else did we have for that?

On that, Mr. Spate. Yes, sir. Would you have maybe a few ROTC cadets that could join us in passing out flags? I know that you guys usually have a lot of them that are marching, you know, between the color guard and raiders and that sort of thing. I wasn't sure if you had any that weren't slated for one of those jobs that would be interested in helping us.

I'm sure if we put the word out, could definitely get a few extra cadets.

I think maybe four. Okay.

Yeah. Four would be good.

Like them in uniform?

They're going to be running back and forth probably Something patriotic, I Yes, something patriotic, yes. Because as we went last year, we were passing out as fast as we could, and of course, the cars keep going, so everybody is running back and forth like that. So something that they can front in but look patriotic. Yes. And if they're uniform, that would be great. I guess that would now that I think of it, that's probably a better idea.

OCPs would probably be good for that, like the Yes. Camouflage Okay. Definitely. Four cadets?

I think four would be good.

Perfect. Appreciate it. They would be honored to do it.

One of each will.

Yes. The other thing we had talked about was the decals or the memorial decals. Your daughter was

Veteran Friendly.

Oh, the Veteran Friendly business. Yes.

Yes. I'm sorry. I'm moving back out of that.

Well, before we move on to that, I do have one quick question about Memorial Day and one update. Update, I am in the process of getting everybody lined up for us to have a service member at each flag for, the wreath laying for the ceremony. And I spoke with your cadets who came last week and kinda discussed that with them, and they're working on the logistics of how they're gonna have cadets lined up to escort those veterans up, lay the wreath with them, and then escort them Yeah. Off as well afterwards. So we're in good shape there.

And then I do just have one question. I think this is more for mister Elkins. I see we've got some updated information about the Memorial Day parade here.

Oh, in in your handout?

Yeah. Yeah.

I believe Nicole put this out for you. So

last year, we had people running up kind of to the vehicle to get more bundles of flags to be able to pass out. Is that going to be with in line with the rules of, you know, them needing to stay in the curb lanes and everything?

Let me follow-up with the service department on that. I know there was a meeting yesterday. I was unable to attend that meeting, but let me get some clarification for you on that.

Okay. Because if we need to plan to have them have, you know, a bag or something for each one to be able to carry flags in, I that's something we can obviously do. But if we know ahead of time, it's easier to plan for that.

Yes. That's a good question. So you're wondering if by the for instance, the cadets handing out the flags, if they're coming back and forth to the Jeep, is that going to violate the new policy?

Exactly. Yes. Don't want Don't to break the rules, you know, right when they get driven

on what I read here, walking along the curb would be fine.

Yep. Yeah. Coming back to the vehicles to be able to get flags and head back over to the curb.

Once once they Yeah. Had Yeah. Once they got rid of all the ones they had. Speaking of that, how about the Reese? Do we have the Reese? Yes. Okay.

Yep. Do we have the flags?

I believe that is question for Nicole. She was going to order those.

Not yet. Okay. But they are in the process.

Perfect. Thank you.

Yep. Mr. Sefko, I think, though, that's going to present the same issue for everybody. I know, like, on counsel, when we're driving a golf cart, everybody's coming back to get the candy to reload. So I guess, Mr. Elkins, you can follow-up with just to see how they plan on addressing it. I don't know that

Well, it certainly

I'm assuming as long as they're not crisscrossing between the vehicles and it's one of those, you know, if you start on the right side, you stay on the right side. If you start on the left side, you stay on the left side. Yeah, I'm assuming that that would be okay, but I just wanted to you know what they say about assuming things.

It's certainly better.

I will also ask for

certainly clarification. Better for our four cadets to be the ones doing it rather than people coming out of the crowd. Kids coming out of

the crowd. And that's what is not allowed? People

Yes, we not can't do those.

I'll also ask for clarification on when that does occur, whether you're handing out flags or candy, that the vehicle stops and somebody inside the vehicle would hand you a new bag of candy or flags, right?

Okay. Can we do I mean, as the vehicle stops, I mean, everybody keeps rolling. Is that how we're going to do that?

Well, I mean, everybody behind would end up stopping, but I mean, let's face it, the parade always kind

of Yeah.

Anyways every year.

I'll get clarification tomorrow.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

You're the man, kind of. Okay. What else do we have on that?

Back to the sorry, back to the reeds real quick. Mr. Elkins, did you guys happen to open the reeds? I know it just delivered boxes. I'm curious if

Yeah. They're really lightweight. Yes. Extremely lightweight. Yeah. We did open them. We pulled them out. So, yeah, they're in the office.

They all

look good and everything? Okay. Perfect.

Yeah. Good point. Do we

have easels, do I think do we need to pick some of those up?

We'll need easels.

Okay.

And we'll need something because they are such lightweight, it's often breezy on Memorial Day, it seems, during the ceremony only. It's But weird how it happens that you'll need something to secure those the wreaths to the easel as well.

Okay. Yeah. Maybe a small carabiner on the back of the wreath and do a little eye hook on the the easel. Mhmm. So as they place it on, they just kinda make sure that that clips and secures.

Yeah. I'd I'd make sure it's at the top and bottom of that wreath. Yeah. Okay. On two sides, wherever that is.

Okay. Typically, a day or two before, we'll do a dry run of everything at the park with the cadets and so forth. So maybe if we can get those just to see and work into the escorts that they maybe the veterans place the reeds and then the escorts just clip them in or something like that. It would be nice to have everything on-site for that rehearsal, if possible.

Who is the veterans are selected by whom to set the wreath?

So this year, because it's, you know, a little bit newer, I'm working with the American Legion to get a veteran from each service branch with the exception of Space Force because we had Cade coming in town for that. Okay. But that's the way that we're doing it this year is we're working with the American Legion. I'd like to try and see if we can work with either, you know, the American Legion, VFW, bounce back and forth, something like that each year to to select a veteran. I did did specify that if we can get veterans who are local to green, that is certainly preferable. But that's sort of the way that we want this year. Yeah.

It's a good idea collaborating with the Legion on that. I like it.

Anything else that we want to bring up on that? I had a thing back, I don't know, from the, military and family readiness specialist with the Ohio National Guard and Veterans. They're having a meeting. The Northeast Ohio Regional Interservice Family Assistant Committee is meeting Thursday on the fourteenth from ten to two or ten to twelve at the MAPS Air Museum, and they wanted to know if we wanted to be able to have someone there in network. I can get a copy to everybody, but we will have an opportunity to participate virtually.

It's an option. Is more convenient for you to participate, simply rely on this message, I can provide the meeting ink separately. They're going to have a table where each person can go around, introduce themselves, explain what they do and what their purpose is and share it with everybody. So it's kind of just, I guess, a greet meet, see who's there and who wants who has can participate. And I don't know whether that's something we want to be interested in or not. What time? It's am. It's the fourteenth, yes, ten a. M. To twelve p. M. And it's at the MAPS air thing.

I unfortunately will not be able to attend with being in the middle of the workday.

Well, I can probably look into that because we'll see what it would be worth going, I think, just to see what it's like and see if we want to move forward.

But

there's enough people in there that we might be able to use to do that. Their goal is gathering so many, resources from the Northeast Ohio region with roundtable discussions can lead to many new connections and ways to assist service members and veterans that we work with every day. Okay. I'll see if I can go to that. I probably should be able to do that. All right. We got anything else on that? Okay. Veterans?

I don't think we have anything new on the veteran friendly business stickers. I know we had approved a design on that. Yes, that's yes. Okay.

And are we getting it put together or

Yeah. I think at the moment, what we're waiting on though too is Mike was working with the Chamber of Commerce. There were some changeover in leadership there.

Yeah. So working through that. Yeah. He want the gentleman that was there is now running this new magazine that he's got out? Okay. Yeah. That's why he's left.

Okay. Yeah.

Okay. How about the Hall of Fame nominations?

Yes. We'll have a conversation offline with the commission about the where we are in the status of

that. Okay. All right. What else we got here?

We're ready to move on to new business. On behalf of the Veterans Advisory Commission, we would like to thank Nicole for all of her hard work and everything that she does for us and recognize her as part of National Clerks Week. Oh. This next week in our gratitude for you.

Oh, you're so You're making me blush. Thank you very much.

Well, you've helped us out a lot.

We're going to need those Okay. Back after the

Yes, yes. Thank you so much. They're beautiful.

All right. New business was that. Anything else that

we Yes. I've got one more. Mr. Spate e mailed me regarding a grant that is available through the Department of Veteran Affairs. They are making available to eligible communities across the country $16,000,000 in grant for adaptive support programs for veterans with disabilities or active service members with disabilities. Green does qualify being a municipality. We'll have a discussion with the service department staff tomorrow on whether or not to submit for funding for adaptive support programs for veterans. The deadline for the grant is May 13, so we still have time to put a grant application together.

Do you anticipate placing that on the

field over at the old collector?

That collector, that certainly is an opportunity. The core is an opportunity for adaptive sport programming. Absolutely, yeah.

Perfect. Think either would be great.

Both.

All right. I guess we'll get back with Keith on the Jeeps and the maps. We can do that. I don't more than they were good with at the moment. Anything else?

Yes. Mr. Burgess, sorry, one quick announcement.

Oh, yes. I'm not going anywhere.

Green High School, over the last three or four years, has done a military signing day to recognize students from Green High School who are enlisting into the military, going to college for ROTC, or going to a service academy. This year's military signing day is May 18 at nine a. M. At Green High School. Will send you guys an e mail with all the information, we would love if you can come join us, celebrate these kids who are taking that next step down the military Road, and it's followed by a brief reception afterwards.

That sounds great.

Yes. What day is that?

It is Monday, May 18.

By fifteen am. It was Sunday.

Yes. I'll send you a

I'll be there.

The info. Okay. How

many high school seniors do you have signing this I

actually don't know the number. Okay. We're still waiting for the to be honest with you, I know it's a pretty decent number. It should be over 10 easily, but just got to get these high school seniors to fill out the paperwork. It's what we're waiting on now. So, yeah, it's a good way to recognize the kids.

Just when they sign their enlistment papers?

Yes. And most of them have already enlisted. This is just a ceremony to recognize And they'll do a mass enlistment on stage, sign some paperwork. The Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, is giving

done. And then then we'll we'll to get that

in that courtyard. Very cool.

Yeah. All right. Okay. What else we got?

I don't know if anybody has these, but I have a Veterans Ohio identification card. You can get these cards through the fiscal Summit County fiscal officer. So if you get a chance to get down to what's that, Kristen Scalise, is that yeah, fill out a form, bring out bring your discharge papers with you and they'll issue you a card. And this comes in handy because a lot of times you go into a place and you tell like Lowe's, I went into Lowe's, asked for veterans discount, she goes, you have any proof. And believe it or not, people do lie that they were veterans, which I can't figure out.

But anyway, showing this and it's good anywhere and this could dovetail into the veteran friendly businesses. We could possibly direct people if they don't have these, if they're veterans, to get these. So it's a handy little piece of identification. So it's definitely proof that nobody carry I don't know about you guys, but I don't carry my discharge papers with me. This is it right here. Don't? No. Used When to, but I don't

that program first got started with the county and I went down and took my DD two fourteen Yeah, that's it. They actually photographed that DD two fourteen, it becomes part of the public record. So if you ever lose it, you can go back to Summit County and ask for a copy if you Right. Prove who you are. Right. All right? But the thing that really puzzled me when they first issued those, they actually had an expiration date on them, like Yeah, the it does. Really?

I don't know if they look that close, When but

my card expired, thank God it wasn't me. When my card expired, I went back and I noticed that they had changed the expiration period to like ten years instead of four.

Yes. Yes, mine expires in 2019 and I got it '29, I'm sorry, and I got it in 2019. They give you ten years. Couldn't understand. It's good to have.

When you're a veteran, once you're a veteran, you're always one. Right, exactly.

What a concept. Yeah, I know. Anything else that we've got going? Jared, no, no.

I think that's it.

Okay.

Motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn. Second. Thank you.