legion :: meeting minutes

Guests Anthony Perman and Ken Cozine were presented certificates for their participation in musical presentation for the King Kamehameha and 4^th of July parades.

Minutes were presented, with one requested change made by Antonio Gaspar, who said that he marked Rex Corpuz as absent on the roll call. Minutes show that he was marked as present, and Antonio was asked to correct his notes. Motion to accept made by Paul Kelley, seconded by John Ferris. Unanimous vote to accept, approved.

Treasurer report made by Nestorio Domingo (report available upon request). Motion to accept made by John Ferris, seconded by Rex Corpuz. Unanimous vote to accept, approved.

District Commander report made by Antonio Gaspar: he reported on the Adopt A Highway status, next one will be on Oct 11^th, 6-8 am. Membership as of today is at 65%, with 81 members paid for the coming year, meeting our goal for this month.

Homeless committee report made by Rex Corpuz: he and the Commander went out on the streets looking for homeless veterans among the population that my need help.

Golf Tournament committee report made by Paul Kelley: he has flyers for anyone to pass out, please take these and bring to your friends, family, businesses.

Special Events/Activities report made by James Hokoana:

-Kealakekua High school JROTC requested the use of our funeral honor guards bugle to play Taps during a 9/11 ceremony at 10:00 at their school flagpole, all are invited to attend (white uniform shirt).

-9/19-20 Veterans of Hawaii reunion at KMC

Veterans Day service-DAV is in charge, but we will assist in anything they need.

Honor guard report by Rico Pacatang:

Update: Last month’s motion to send a letter regarding Post 20 paying qualifying Honor Guard members not in the Legion was sent on August 22, 2025.

Old business:

Regarding looking for a new meeting place, James Hokoana recently met with Tina Osborne, the Community Relations Director at the Regency at Hualalai. to schedule our semi-annual Veterans visit on Wednesday, 5 Nov 2025 at 11:30 am, lunch to follow, as well as to ask to post our Golf tournament flyers for any interested family members or visitors there. During that meeting he asked the question (suggested by Susan) that we are looking for a potential establishment to hold our Legion monthly meetings to lower overhead cost and increase veteran and community program support. Tina said there is a conference room upstairs…would you like to take a look? It has tables and chairs (15-20 person capacity). The cost will be free. I also asked about purchasing dinner. Dinner cost $15.00/person, downstairs in the dining room (the next day she emails James…she spoke to her Executive Director and the Director agreed to lower the dinner cost to $10.00/person).

-In summary: Post 20 has paid for meeting fees from January 2023 to August 2025 (2170.00, 2024: $1720.00, Jan-Aug 2025: $1290.00) totaling = $5180.00 (over 32 month period).

Motion was made by Susan Bickell to accept their invitation and change our meeting location to the Regency starting next month, sesconded by John Ferris. Unanimous vote to accept, approved. James will draft an agreement and submit for review, as suggested by Nestorio Domingo.

New business:

Coffee with a Veteran- Regency at Hualalai (monthly). They will provide coffee, we will provide pastries. No date has been set.

Birthdays: 9/4 Robert Walter, 9/6 Glen Noriji, 9/7 Robert Strickland, 9/10 Jim Hussey, 9/11 Maurice Lockhart, 9/18 Dave Carlson and US Airforce celebrates its 78th Birthday, 9/22 Jon Boucher, Ken Smith, 9/24 Patrick Castro, 9/26 George Hershberger and Henry Silva, 9/28 Joe McManus and Teresa Keys.

Anniversary/Special days:

9/11 Patriot Day-Occurs on Sept 11th of each year. It marks the 24th anniversary of the victims killed in the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history, causing the deaths of 2,977 victims. During the Afghanistan and Iraq war there were 7085 military fatalities and 53,533 Wounded service members between October 2001 and February 2024. The loss didn’t stop there. By June 2021, the number veterans and active duty personnel who died by suicide was 30,177, more than 4 times the service members killed in war operations.

- Factors like exposure to improvised explosive devices has led to higher rates of traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and chronic pain.

Access to Care barriers: despite the availability of VA resources, many veterans, particularly those not enrolled in VA healthcare, face significant barriers include difficulty navigating the system, transportation issues in rural area and fear that seeking help could harm their career or eligibility for benefits. Veterans with “other than honorable“ discharges are also at higher suicide, risk and face difficulties, accessing benefits.

9/16 marks the106th anniversary when the American Legion was chartered by the US Congress in 1919. The organization was established by members of the American expeditionary forces in Paris, France in March 1919 before receiving it’s national charter from Congress later that year.

9/17 marks Constitution Day, to commemorate the signing of the US Constitution on that date in 1787, which established the United States government and it’s framework for power. The US Constitution remains the world’s longest, surviving, written charter of government, serving as a foundation for American political principles and the democratic way of life.

9/19 marksnNational POW/MIA recognition Day. It is observed on the third Friday in September and honors those who were prisoners of war, and those who are still missing in action. The department of defense POW/MIA accounting agency indicates more than 81,600 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam war, the Cold War, and the Gulf wars/other conflicts.

Illness/Death: Jim Hussey home with Covid.

Prayer, POW/MIA, salute to the flag conducted.

Adjourn at 4:46pm.

Next meeting: October 8th , 4pm, Regency conference room. Uniform: White shirt and garrison cap.

Following meeting we will be celebrating Dave Carlson and Jim Hussey’s birthdays with cake/candles and song.

Submitted:

Susan Bickell, 1^st Vice Commander