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Veterans council reviews Memorial Day schedule and seeks flag funding from Bay Area Foundation
Summary
Committee members outlined the county's Memorial Day schedule, debated consolidating ceremonies to east and west locations to reduce volunteer time, and discussed difficulty securing Foundation funds to replace flags at Veterans Park flag poles.
Members of the Bay County Veterans Affairs Committee reviewed the county's Memorial Day schedule on May 20 and discussed consolidation of ceremonies and ongoing difficulties obtaining flag-replacement funding from the Bay Area Foundation.
The committee listed planned ceremonies at multiple county cemeteries and memorial sites, and discussed a proposal from Chaplain Charlie Campbell to hold two primary ceremonies — one on the east side and one on the west side of the county — with rotating cemetery participation to shorten volunteers' time commitments. The proposal would consolidate services at the county building on the east side and at the Bay Veterans Monument on the west side in some years, with denominational and cemetery-specific remembrances rotating annually.
Separately, committee members said the veterans council has tried for two years to secure Foundation disbursements designated for monuments and flag upkeep. Members said the Bay Area Foundation holds funds for monuments and that Mike Burke has been the county contact on those disbursements; several attempts to request money for replacement flags were reported to have failed. A committee member suggested asking the Bay County Commission to press the Foundation to release funds earmarked for monument and flag maintenance.
No formal change to the Memorial Day schedule was adopted at the May 20 meeting; members said the veterans council will continue to discuss consolidation and will bring proposals back for approval as needed.
