Veterans Memorial Committee

Approved: 042816 M&C Somers Gardiner Approved Minutes Veterans Memorial Committee Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Davis Hall Members Present Absent Deloris Cass ______ __X___ Joseph Ruth __X___ ______ Rita Zito __X___ ______ Tom Davis __X___ ______ Doris Davis __X___ ______ Arthur Eaton __X___ ______ (arrived at 6:23 p.m.) Seth Gomoljak __X___ ______ Also Present: Bob Stumpff, Public Works Director; Mary Cook, Council member, District 4; Patrick Wojahn, Mayor of College Park; Julie Beavers, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. 1. Appointment of Chairman for 2016 (Per Charter) Ms. Zito motioned to appoint Seth Gomoljak as Chairman of the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. Ms. Davis seconded the motion. Mr. Gomoljak accepted the position. There were no further nominations. Mr. Davis motioned to vote in acclamation of nomination of Mr. Gomoljak as Chairman of the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. Mrs. Davis seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed 5-0-0 2. Review and approval of September 20, 2015 Minutes Mr. Davis motioned the minutes be approved as submitted. Ms. Zito seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed 5-0-0 3. Discussion of November Veteran’s May’s Memorial Day Ceremony  Speaker Mr. Gomoljak suggested reading the list of deceased College Park residents who served in all wars since WWI. Mr. Gomoljak and Mr. Ruth are working on gathering the information. The list will be read by name, rank, where they served, medals received and where they passed. The only issue is that College Park was not a City until 1945 so the Board will have to look into Berwyn Heights. The list will take about 15 to 20 minutes to read. A suggestion was made that the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts to read the names.  A bell would ring after each name read. Mr. Davis will see if the American Legion will lend their bell. There will be a short introduction explaining the incorporation date of College Park.  Music The song Amazing Grace will be sung after reading all the names. Ms. Davis will contact the musicians who will perform the music. The Star Spangled Banner and Taps will also be performed. Melissa Sites and the College Park Arts Exchange will need to be contacted.  Gifts The VFW will give out Buddy Poppies to the guests.  Luncheon The American Legion will be the location for the luncheon and Mr. Davis will work with the Elected Post Commander and try to get a better meal perhaps sub sandwiches. Mr. Davis will arrange for 100 people and spend up to $350.00 Mr. Ruth motioned to approve up to $350.00 to spend on the luncheon for sub sandwich, salad, drinks and cake. Mr. Davis seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed 5-0-0  Photography Mr. Eaton will be the photographer again this year.  Signs- Public Works Council member Cook will bring her signs to Public Works to be distributed to the Committee to display before the event. She will also give Mr. Stumpff the contact information for the company that created the signs in case the Committee needs to purchase more.  Advertising Mr. Gomoljak will send out the advertising.  Thank you notes Ms. Zito will be happy to write the thank you notes as long as she receives a list of names with a description of how they helped with the ceremony. Mr. Gomoljak will work on the picture of the program so that it shows the College Park memorial and not the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Other  Plants Ms. Zito reported that the Boy Scouts will help her plant the flowers around the memorial that Brenda Alexander will provide.  Water Mr. Davis will provide the water and Public Works will provide the ice. 2 01132016 Approved Minutes   Flags VFW will provide the POW flags and the little flags  Benediction Mr. Ruth will add a moment of reflection for Vietnam Veterans to the Benediction. 4. Old Business There was no old business to discuss 5. New Business  Discussion of the Commemorative Partner Program Letter The attached letter is from the Department of Defense. They are asking for partners for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The Committee will spend a moment of silence in memory of the Vietnam War. The letter also mentions a gift of lapel pins. Mr. Gomoljak will look into how to provide these pins. There is an application which Mayor Wojahn will complete.  Discussion of the Memorial Day Program Special mention of Veterans (Reading of names, date of birth, death date, and location of College Park residents that died in the service of our country)  The Veteran’s Memorial has a Twitter page. There is now a Veteran’s Memorial Committee Twitter page. @VMCofCP  The Memorial Land Mr. Gomoljak will send a letter to the City of College Park Planning Department to see if there is a way for First Right of Refusal of the Cass property so that they can secure the property where the memorial is located in case the Cass family wants to sell. 6. Next Meeting Date: April 27, 2016 7. Adjournment Mr. Davis motioned to adjourn. Mr. Ruth seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed 6-0-0 The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Julie Beavers, Contract Secretary 3 01132016 Approved Minutes