VETERANS’ AFFAIRS COMMISSION
City of Aurora
July 10, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
Fletcher Room, 1^st Floor
Aurora Municipal Center

Interview of two VAC applicants will take place at
5:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting.

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

V. CHAIR REPORT

VI. COUNCIL CONTACT REPORTS

VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

IX. NEW BUSINESS

X. ADJOURNMENT

Next Meeting for the Veterans’ Affairs Commission
August 14, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
Fletcher Room, 1^st Floor, Aurora Municipal Center

Veterans’ Affairs Commission
Minutes
June 12, 2008
Regular Meeting

I. CALL TO ORDER
The Veterans’ Affairs Commission meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS
Present: Commissioners Bennett, Dow, Ford, Sarlls, Yett, Sr.
Absent: Commissioners Moody, Nowalk, Rodriquez
Staff: Barbara Shannon-Banister, Chief of Community Relations Division
Guests: Clif Sams, Cy Smaling, Jay Acruri with Dignity Memorial

IV. PRESENTATION
Jay Acruri, Dignity Memorial – Mr. Acruri presented information regarding Dignity Memorial’s funeral program which can assist city employees with their funeral plans. Chair Sarlls commented that, in part, the intention of the presentation was for the VAC to agree to recommend to the City that they adopt this program for city employees. She mentioned many of the employees are veterans and believes it would be good for the city. The program will be available to employees as well as volunteers. Representatives from Dignity Memorial would be available to make this presentation to the City Council if necessary.

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Bennett requested a change to the flag retirement section of the May minutes so it reads “American Legion Post 23” rather than “VFW Post 6331”. Commissioner Yett suggested that “flag burning” be changed to “flag retirement” in all instances. The minutes were approved with suggested changes.

VI. FINANCIAL REPORT

VII. CHAIR REPORT
Chair Sarlls mentioned the Operations Report which featured the VAC Memorial Day celebration. She also mentioned that at the Aurora Veterans Center meeting they discussed that they are still looking for properties for the Veterans Center. It could possibly be at Fitzsimons where the nursing home is, but that property seems to be too small. They also have a piece of property located near 30^th Avenue in an industrial area, but that too seems too small. The process is moving along albeit slowly.

VIII. COUNCIL CONTACT REPORTS
Commissioner Bennett mentioned speaking with Councilmember Molly Markert at the Flag Ceremony on Memorial Day about presenting a resolution to have the city fly the POW/MIA Flag. She also talked to Councilmember Larry Beer about money for the VAC. Chair Sarlls mentioned she spoke with Markert about money for the VAC. She encouraged Commissioners to continue to talk with their Councilmember contacts regarding funding for the Commission.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Ø Commissioner Bennett reported on how enjoyable the Memorial Day Parade was.
Ø Chairs Sarlls mentioned she is on the Executive Board for the Parade of Honor in September. Frank Young, who is also involved, said he would work with the DUVC to get publicity for the parade. Sarlls feels he is a good contact for DUVC. She also said Greatest Generation Foundation Head, Tim Davis, is interested in helping with the parade.
Ø Commissioner Yett mentioned he was not at the Memorial Day Parade because he was working with the Mars Division that transmitted over 11,000 radio messages between soldiers overseas and their families.
Ø Chair Sarlls said the Memorial Day Flag Ceremony was a huge success. At the ceremony, Councilmember Molly Markert said she would introduce a resolution to fly the POW/MIA Flag on a daily basis at the Aurora Municipal Center. Sarlls called for a motion to recommend that the VAC make this resolution. The motion was moved by Commissioner Dow and seconded by Commissioner Yett. The motion carried.
Ø Chair Sarlls introduced several ideas she had to improve next year’s Flag Raising Ceremony. They included: (1) keeping the Memorial Day Flag Ceremony very simple, (2) having the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem present at the ceremony, (3) getting publicity for the event well in advance so it is widely publicized, (4) involving the Buffalo Soldiers Youth Troop with a colors presentation, and (5) using the Police PA system for announcements. Sarlls does not want the event to be more about the entertainment than about the actual reason for the ceremony. She feels it should be simple, understated and appropriate for the venue. The Commission feels the entire event should last no longer than 30 minutes.
Ø Commissioner Yett suggested they invite the Scottish American Military Association to the Memorial Day Flag Raising Ceremony to do the Honor Guard. This group preserves the history of U.S. wars that people of Scottish and Irish ancestry have been involved in. Several additional suggestions were made including: (a) saying the Pledge of Allegiance each year, (b) singing “God Bless America” (Barbara Shannon Banister volunteered to do so), (c) having a military fly over (Commissioner Bennett said that would take Congressional approval but she would work on it), (d) using triangle bells to start the ceremony, (e) announcing the event on the city email, and (f) inviting Representative Buckley to the event.
Ø This year’s Flag Retirement Ceremony was postponed by Chair Sarlls because she did not feel the VAC was ready for it at this time. She would like to have a ceremony at General’s Park where the memorial will be and make that the center of activity for the day. Commissioner Yett mentioned he did not think that was a good location for a gathering of people. It was mentioned that Post 23 is doing a Flag Retirement Ceremony, as is VFW Post 9644. Sarlls asked if Post 23 would be willing to let the VAC do theirs together. Commissioner Bennett said if they do not do something with the flags, they will be disposed of by the company that usually deals with them. Sarlls suggested Bennett take the flag to Post 23 to be disposed of. Sarlls decided the flag retirement would be put on hold this year and plan instead to do one next year.
Ø Commissioner Bennett mentioned the National American Legion came in with a lot of support for the VA center and hospital. Chair Sarlls has information about that.

X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Ø Chair Sarlls passed around pictures of display cases that would house the model of the memorial. Overall, the octagon shape display was preferred by the Commissioners and will be ordered. The model will be displayed on the second floor of the AMC in a cutout in the banister. During November, the VAC would like to have it placed on the first floor. It was suggested that a platform be used with the memorial so it is raised to eye level. Dignity Memorial will pay for the display case.

XI. NEW BUSINESS

Ø Chair Sarlls held a discussion on the VA Hospital. On May 30, 2008, a meeting was held at which the Undersecretary of the VA was present along with top veteran leaders and leaders from the VA. They have changed the entire layout of the new VA hospital. Initially, the hospital was going to be two towers at Fitzsimons which they were going to share with Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado (CU). Secretary Principi changed the plans and said it was to be a stand alone facility. The current Secretary, Secretary Peak, has now said they are going to have a tower that shares facilities with CU which will be on the east side of campus. Inpatient care will be at CU, while outpatient care will be at the VA hospital. The number of beds for spinal cord injuries was cut from 30 to 8. (Secretary Principi originally told paralyzed veterans they would have 50 beds.) Their reasoning for doing this was said to be telemedicine and the buddy system. PAV and DAV were upset by this. The new campaign for the project will feature a public relations event at Fitzsimons at which paralyzed and disabled veterans will break ground for the hospital. If the veterans cannot do so, the VAC will participate. They would like to get the media involved. Sarlls mentioned that it was obvious to her that the representatives from the VA were not interested in what was being said – that he did not understand health issues. She felt their bottom line was to cut the number of beds available to injured veterans. Sarlls mentioned Tom Tancredo, Ed Perlmutter, and Senator Salazar were all present at the meeting and she feels they have the veterans’ interest in mind. The following statement is what the United Veterans’ Committee of Colorado will be sending to VA Secretary Peak in Washington, “Colorado veteran leadership has concerns with the VA’s Visa 19 Veterans Centric Plan because of insufficient data. It is impossible for veterans to support the plan until details are presented. We applaud the proposed meeting with Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield to involve veterans in the detailed planning process. It is to the benefit of all to resolve outstanding issues. We look forward to a timely plan for a new VA center that meets the needs as identified by CARES in the Denver region.” In the next two weeks, the top leaders that spoke at the May 30, 2008 meeting will speak with Gordon Mansfield to try to get things settled so things can move forward. Chair Sarlls spoke with women at the VA and told them that she felt the Aurora Veterans’ Affairs Commission should be involved in the UVC meetings. She also told them that she did not see representation for women veterans and felt they should be included. Sarlls mentioned that the PAV, DAV, American Legion and VFW have numbers to support the fact that more beds, nurses, doctors, etc. are needed. However, the VA is saying that more beds and staff are not needed based on their own statistical analysis. In fact, they are saying the number of beds and resources that will be needed will drop drastically in the next five years. Colorado ranks 48^th or 49^th as far as the number of dollars spent on veterans each year. Colorado did, however, restore the veterans trust fund this year thanks to the work of the UVC. Sarlls feels Commissioners should be contacting their State Representatives as needed to encourage them to do more to support veterans.
Ø Commissioner Dow mentioned that Nancy Todd and Steve Ward held an event at Heather Gardens similar to the Veterans’ Forum held at the Aurora Municipal Center. This was of concern because the Commissioners felt the two events could be combined and held together for better results.

XII. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned.

Paula Sarlls, Chair, Veterans’ Affairs Commission

Transcribed by Pam Feigitsch, Program Assistant

The next regular meeting is Thursday, July 10, 2008
6:00 p.m. Fletcher Room, 1^st Floor, Aurora Municipal Center

2008 Meeting Dates to Remember
07/01/08 8:00 a.m. KCRT, Aurora Room, 1st fl., AMC
07/02/08 6:00 p.m. HRC, Aurora Room, 1st fl., AMC
07/09/08 9:30 a.m. Civil Rights/Human Rights, Sand Creek Room, 4^th fl. AMC
07/10/08 6:00 p.m. VAC, Fletcher Room, 1^st fl. AMC
07/24/08 6:00 p.m. KAC/ICCNA, Fletcher Room, 1^st fl. AMC
0724/08 9:00 a.m. ACOF, Aspen Room, 2nd fl. AMC
07/24/08 8:30 a.m. Diversity Tool Kit, Aurora Room, 1st fl., AMC
07/26/08 9:30 a.m. NAACP, 12075 E. 14^th Street, Aurora, CO 80010