United Patriotic Bodies Minutes for 30 October 2006
Jan Jorgensen Secretary

Meeting started at 1900
Those present: Cdr. Bob Jacobson, SUBVETS, Cdrs. Wayne Wermager, Mark Wagemann, Terry Richardson, Jan Jorgensen, John Lopez and Bob Long, Wayne Ellefson, Phil Woods, Wally Buckingham, Ed Milligan, guest DJ Malm.

Pledge of Allegiance led by Commander Terry Richardson

NEW BUSINESS:

Veterans Day was discussed-ceremony on the Vets Memorial Bridge will begin at 0830 at the plaza. A wreath will be thrown into the river, a Navy tradition, and colors presented.

The parade will start at 1045 meeting at the Depot downtown Fargo. The colorguards will do 4 point guns firing along the parade route. The parade will end at the Civic with Commanders helping to raise the flag where we will no longer be having flyovers anymore. The question is being raised whether we have a gun salute at the flagpole. Terry Richardson is talking to commanders as he is not in favor of firing the guns at that point.

DJ Malm discussed the bridge sign. After all the hard work the service organizations have done deciding the color, style, font, etc., for the bridge sign the city of Fargo says now they do not like the color of the granite nor the way we wanted it engraved.  So, the architecture firm wants the color to be charcoal gray with the lettering to match the Red River of the North and a size change so the weight is ok to sit on top of the River sign.  The architecture firm also wants to make the Vets sign an inch smaller which doesn't seem like much but that does affect the weight.

The city of Fargo maintains the bridge. The two cities are working on the issue. We are disappointed that all the hard work gone into making these decisions is now being questioned.

Commander Mark Wagemann brought raffle tickets. The RAFFLE TICKETS are now being sold to raise money for the bridge sign. The prize is a Big and Rich signed guitar with Two Foot Fred worth $800.  Tickets are $5.00. Ask the Commander of your Post or Chapter for them. We need your help.

Ed Milligan spoke about fundraising for the bridge sign. He is going to talk to MN Walmart for $66,000 plus Dean Siefert, President of the Teamsters, for $55,000.

Bob Long gave the report that we have $4,242.00 in the bridge fund.

8 November movie-tickets see Mark Wagemann at the Fargo VFW.
Veterans Day- SOS at noon AMVETS Post 7
Fargo VFW- noon stew
Moorhead VFW- 0800-1100 breakfast
1200 Lopez stew; and for every veteran who sign in at the VFW the club will
give $5.00 for their activities fund for the VA
Bingo in the afternoon
American Legion Fargo-1200 stew, Red River Band comes back to the Legion
after activities to play in their auditorium.

2 November colorguards needed for Bonanzaville for an early Veterans Day
where Sen. Dorgan and Conrad will appear.

DJ Malm spoke about 27 January-Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Hall for a Fundraiser of a Chilly Cook Off and Sausage Cook Off, dance with the band "Past Due."  Budweiser will be one of our sponsors.
5 May-gather on the bridge including kids for dedication of the Bridge sign!

We hope the bridge sign will be done by the end of April.
"Vet's Visits on TV," Cdr. Bob Jacobsen passed out info on this.

Time and Place for next UPB meeting- 27 November at 1900, Fargo VFW

2005 meeting adjourned. motion made by Wally Buckingham, second by Ed Milligan
Meeting adjourned