Soldiers Memorial Commission Meeting November 12, 2024
Nov 12 2024
October 8th Minutes:
Present
Don Andrejczyk
Ken Harstine
Rick Purcell
Laddy Rua
Mayor Joshua Garcia
Jorge Santiago, Veterans Services
Wilfredo
Phil
Kevin Thomas
Evalese Gonzales
Jorge presenting on 65th Infantry Regiment. Strictly Puerto Rican memberships. April 2016 presented the unit the Congressional Gold Medal. Looking for all surviving members of this unit. They are looking for some kind of monument to this unit in Holyoke. Don would like to know if any members are or were located in Massachusetts. Originally they found five members. All living members are over 90.
Maybe add a monument to Holyoke guard unit as well as the 65th Infantry.
April 13th is the national day of remembrance for this unit.
Decided to request a monument to this unit in Veterans Park.
Have an event on April 13th 2025
Evalese proposes a joint effort with the public schools to raise awareness.
Mayor Garcia: Re-Entry proposal. Race street has an HPD, behavior Health and Sherif. Displacement issues. Have a center to handle these issues for those in most need. Various outside funding opportunities. Sheriffs office has money and resources to renovate the space in the War Memorial building.
Don A: Building dedicated to veterans. How much space.
Mayor: Use the entire 2nd floor for this service.
Lady: DAV needs a daily accessible space.
Meeting space for Veterans organizations.
What are each of the shareholders needs.
Occupation will be phased in. Work from rear of the building forward.
Don A: Veterans services needs more space.
Phil: DAV and retire policemen. Processing personally 20 veterans a month. Might be other Veterans services in Holyoke that need this space. DAV is currently in the 104th division room.
Rick: American Legion Post 25 has been in the building since the start. Need to know where there materials will be stored.
Phil: Internet only on the first floor. Exiting room on 1st floor needs to be cleaned and mold removed. Stored items should go somewhere else.
Jorge: DAV room stuff will be removed to the attic for storage.
Mayor: Fix rooms, roof, etc.
Lady: We need the building fixed up so that we can be an attractive space.
Kevin: Recruiters in the building?
Wilfredo: Commander American Legion Post 25. Property and information. What will happen with the Legion’s property. Wants a written plan. The Legion can’t do the moving of materials.
Mayor: Looking at meeting Legion’s needs.
Lady: Get our materials organized. What should be displayed. Storage, what and where.
Wilfredo: What is the time line for needing to move from the existing space.
Lady: Need a game plan by the end of October.
Jorge: What do we do about security with all these users. New PC based system so that each office can check people in and out. What do we do about privacy. Veterans services needs private interview rooms.
Jorge: Meetings once a month. Occasional private meetings with veterans that need help with services.
Phil: Uses Monday-Friday 10am to 2pm by appointment. Not every day every appointment. May schedule appointments at other times.
Jorge: Needs keys and security codes for building.
Lady: Requests all users provide information of what they specifically need.
Are we for the CDRC coming to the building. Internet, heating, roof and security need to be completed. Need to get new commissioners. Nelson, Kevin Thomas, Coleen, and Phil Levy. Andrew McMahon needs to be removed from the commission.
Mayor will withdraw Andrew and add three new commissioners. Laddy will create a plan for this month.
Rick makes motion that Race Street move into the building. Unanimous approval of that move.
War memorial agrees accept the idea of the CDRC moving into the building. Motion to accept from Rick. Don seconds. Wilfredo asks for an archive committee to organize the proper placement of items. Unanimous approval of motion.
Next meeting November 12th.
MC of Veterans Day Event. MC will be Don Andrejczyk