HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-25-TCC-min TOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
Virtual Meeting MINUTES
September 25, 2024
Members Present (12 members; no vacancy): Glen Bassett and Geetha Padaki, co-chairs;
Linda Dixon; Dave Grabel; Gresh Lattimore; Sondra Lucente; Lorain Marquis; Sandy Podgorski.
Absent: Yifang Gong; Mary Hutton; Cerise Jalelian; Sue Stering.
Quorum: 7 Full Committee Members.
Subcommittee Members Present (15 members; 5 vacancies): Bonnie Karshbaum; Jamie Lee;
Ashley Rooney; Mirela Vaso. Absent: Sudha Balasuryan; Steve Cole; Pam Winters, Huma
Wasim; Perla Walling-Sotolong; Hong Xie. Karen Tyler, Veterans Services Director, also
attending.
7:12 PM: Meeting called to order by Co-Chair Geetha.
7:15 PM Minutes of September 11, 2024 approved, as amended.
Veterans Day Pre-Planning /Jamie, Linda, Lorain, Dave
Breakfast (November 2)/ Lorain
- Missing Man Table (KIA, MIA, POW) provided by K of C.
- Doors open at 8am, breakfast at 9am, over by 10:30am. Feed everybody!
- 116 invitations to Veterans sent out. Forward all replies to Lorain.
- Name Tags: Have a second table away from Registration Table. Ashley and Mirela to oversee
with help of Scouts.
- Carnations:just 3/table. Not handed out to everyone.
- Photographer: Dave Tabling will be asked by Sandy. Check list should be available.
Ceremony/Linda
180 attended last year. 82 have signed up thus far for this year.
Jamie to be MC; State Rep Michelle Ciccolo will speak about the new Hero's Act which provides
many new benefits for Veterans in Mass. VSO Karen will then speak and have a handout for
everyone. She will also handout books about the Vietnam War, which celebrate its 50th year
anniversary.
Essays: 30-40 essays have been submitted to Michael Egbert. Sue, Mary, Linda, Sandy and
Lorain will pick two of the best.
Posters from Minuteman Tech/ Sue: Not sure how many will be created for this year. Two will
be framed for the drawing.
Main Speaker from Air Force/ Hanscom AFB. Lorain to confirm.
LHS Band (13-15 members) will stand behind the podium and play: National Anthem, Service
Songs; then God Bless America.
Car Parade (November 11) /Dave
- Cars to assemble at 10:30am at the Senior Center/ Masonic Library parking lot. Sandy has
confirmed with the Masonic Lodge. Must Select Board approve? Battle Green must also be
reserved for the 11th.
- Cerise and Bonnie will coordinate the decoration (Masonic Lodge) and the cleaning off(St
Brigid's parking lot) of the car signage.
- Bonnie asked: how will attendees know when the car parade has ended?
- Sgt Bresnihan will coordinate the lead Police Cruiser and Fire Engine. There will be no parking
on Mass Ave in the Battle Green area.
- Food at Keilty Hall, St Brigid: Glen will oversee donuts and cider.
Patriots' Day(2025) / Dave
- Glen to send out invitations to last year's participants. Six applications have already been
received. Middlesex Volunteers have requested a significant fee increase, which we may care
to honor. Are they playing Lexington and Concord? Lexington Minutemen seek$3,500 which
makes sense to honor. We're seeking 120 units to be double that of Concord's parade!
- Ethan Zohn (LHS '88 or'89), a survivor celebrity, may attend.
- Sandy will liaise with the DPW.
- TCC will start the Calendar Page on November 11 at Town Hall. All encouraged to attend.
Other Business: Lorain encouraged everyone to submit invoices to the Town as soon as the cost
is paid by an individual. Don't delay! Must submit the Town Tax Exempt Form.
8:28 PM: Meeting Adjourned.
NEXT MEETING: OCTOBER 9, 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Gresh Lattimore, Secretary