O'Fallon Veterans Commission approves agenda, readies Veterans Day and March 29 Vietnam memorial dedication

The O'Fallon Veterans Commission convened on Oct. 20, approved its agenda and last month's minutes, and spent much of the meeting planning upcoming ceremonies and reviewing logistics for a March 29 Vietnam memorial dedication.

Commission members voted to approve the night's agenda after a motion by Sheldon Hartsfield and a second by Eggemeyer; the chair announced the motion carried. Hartsfield also moved to accept the minutes from the prior meeting, seconded by Kat Vogel; that motion likewise carried.

The commission confirmed plans for the city Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11, naming Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Smith, state director of military funeral honors, as guest speaker. "He's our commanding officer," one member said of Smith, adding that organizers were "pretty excited" to have him and that the ceremony is set for 11:00 a.m. at the Walk.

Members reported the Vietnam Veterans memorial project is largely finalized and proposed holding its dedication at the Walk on March 29. Commissioners discussed time-of-day, speaker arrangements and whether to hold the program at Dames Park, the museum parking lot or the Walk. "There's a road that goes right in front" of the memorial at Dames Park, one member said, noting concerns about parking, spectator seating and the need for police to manage traffic if attendance is large.

To address those concerns the commission asked volunteers to meet with the Parks Department and perform a site survey at Dames Park to assess safety, traffic control and staging options. The chair proposed a walking visit to the site to report back to the commission before finalizing the location.

The commission also reviewed recent ceremonial activity: Sheldon Hartsfield clarified that a recent large event was a flag retirement ceremony and not a "flag burning." He said about 7,000 flags were retired at the event, "the flags were incinerated" and "the ashes were buried in a marked grave," and he emphasized that the ceremony included a formal retirement and burial of ashes.

Organizational updates included the Elks Veterans Service Committee scheduling three major 2026 events (a March 14 veterans resource fair, May 30 purse bingo and an Oct. 10 Texas Hold'em fundraiser). Members noted the honor guard has conducted about 185 funerals so far this year and that AmVets, VVA, VFW, American Legion and Marine Corps League groups are coordinating a veterans breakfast; organizers asked attendees to RSVP expected numbers so planners can estimate food and setup needs.

The commission welcomed alternate member Anthony Graham, who introduced himself as an O'Fallon resident, a St. Louis-area educator and an Army Reserve civil affairs officer. The meeting closed with a benediction and adjournment.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting included motions to approve the agenda and to accept the previous meeting's minutes; both motions carried.