Link back to Veterans' Council Meeting Minutes
May 27, 2011
The following represents the meeting of the Veterans Council held May 19, 2011 at the G.A.R. Hall and was called to order at 1940 hours.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting was called to order by Keith Jermyn, The Town of Hingham's Veterans Agent, with the following committee members present: H. Messmer, J. McHugh, S. McMillan, L. St. Laurent, E. Sofis The chairman effected excused absences for the following committee members: B. Beal, J. Claypoole, M. Demenna, W.Ramsey. A. Smith; Absent A. McCawley and one vacancy.
The minutes as sent by email were read from the last meeting and a motion was made to approve, and seconded and the minutes were then accepted.
The chairman made an anecdotally appropriate timely remark from a brief discussion with Michael Studley, President of the Hingham Historical Society, that he, Mike Studley, did not support the use of public funds for markers in the Town's Cemeteries.
Memorial Day Celebration: first, as has been previously reported, The Veterans Agent stated that this will be an exceptional celebration with virtually a score of citizen's groups represented in a variety of activities. The Veteran's Agent has sent to all members a detailed schedule listing all locations of participants and luncheon plans for Veterans and their families. The event begins at 11AM, Monday, May 30th. In case of rain, the ceremonies will take place at the High School.
There will be 2000 Flags placed in throughout the six Town Cemeteries in the following Decorations will be placed at the following locations:
Town Hall, G.A.R. Memorial Hall, Hingham Center, Hull Street, POW/ MIA, Iron Horse, Lincoln Statue, Stone, and bridge, Rhodes Circle, Civil War Monument, TSgt. William Terry Dr., Shipyard, War Dogs Memorial, Chase Stone,
The Sweeney Award Ceremony will be held Thursday, May 26th, 2011 at the McCormack Building, UMASS Boston.
The next agenda item followed was an animated and lively discussion of Cemetery Maintenance Funding practices for the Veterans Council.
The Veterans Agent reported the following:
Average prior 4 years annual expenditure Vet Graves
St. Paul $490.50 636
High Street $783.00 400
Old Ship Church $637.50 300
Hingham Center $75.00 190
Fort Hill $Zero 175
Liberty Plain $375.00 109
It was concluded that the Council should have three (3) plans to be considered and are represented as follows:
Plan A: No Action
Plan B: No money expended, except for specific request to include, but not limited to, repairs of Veterans'Grave Sites, when no next of kin is available or when a specific Veteran activity/ceremony occurs.
Plan C: Institute a Veteran per capita amount to be paid to each Cemetery. To establish the total funding required, it will be necessary to determine the total number of grave sites in Hingham. In an informal review of the meeting attendees the per capita range was from zero to $2.00. It was concluded that a reasonable amount is $2.00 per Veteran.
The meeting adjourned at 2050 hours.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ernest C. Sofis,
Secretary