The Hinesville Military Affairs Committee set its agenda items for the year when it met Monday night.

The first thing members did was change their meeting schedule.

“For the next six months, I don’t think we have anything pressing,” HMAC Chairman and City Councilman David Anderson said. “What do y’all think about meeting every other month until June? Then we can go back to monthly (meetings) to get ready for Veterans Salute.”

Most of the dozen members present agreed they didn’t need to meet monthly, but didn’t want to wait until July to start focusing on Veterans Salute. Chuck VanDuser suggested they meet again Monday, March 23, and Monday, June 22. After that, they could go back to meeting the fourth Monday each month. All agreed.

Members also dealt with some unfinished business. They had not yet voted to distribute funds raised during November’s Veterans Salute to go toward the Veterans Memorial Walk at Bryant Commons. Anderson said they had donated $6,000 from funds raised at the 2013 Veterans Salute and suggested they do the same for 2014, even though they raised a little less than that. A motion to do that was approved.

In new business, the board discussed a 30-by-38-foot American flag that a company in Atlanta is donating to the Veterans Memorial Walk. Although he was not there, Anderson said the subcommittee Chairman George Holtzman had secured the donation.

Holtzman also reported that they almost have sold enough trees and benches for each of the services represented at the memorial and would soon begin selling bricks. The next Memorial Walk meeting is 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bryant Commons.

“We’ve raised a little more than $100,000,” Anderson noted. “But we’re still a long way from the $1 million we need to build the memorial. So the next fund raiser for the memorial will be the car show on March 7.”

Melinda Schneider said that event will be called an international car show because it will be part of the Small World Festival, with both events taking place at Bryant Commons the first Saturday in March. In addition to these events, she noted that Bryant Commons will see its grand opening as a city park that day. A 5K run will kick off the day’s activities, which will include the opening of a dog park.

“We really need all your help getting publicity for the car show,” Schneider said. “If you can, please try to get door prizes donated for car show.”

Agenda items discussed for the good of the order included information by Adna Chaffee about an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at Angie’s Diner on Feb. 14 in Midway. The $8-a-plate event will be sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 789 and run from 8-10 a.m.

Barbara VanDuser invited members to participate in a golf tournament March 14 at Cherokee Rose Country Club.

Paul Andreshak told HMAC members about an idea proposed by the Southeast Georgia Friends of Fort Stewart and Hunter. He showed a sample of a wounded-warrior parking sign and asked what they thought about asking government offices and retail stores setting aside additional parking spaces for wounded warriors and spouses of deployed soldiers.

Chaffee pointed out there already are parking spaces for the handicapped, noting that disabled veterans are getting ticketed for parking there without the official handicapped sticker on their vehicle. Jack Morris pointed out the abuse by family members of handicapped citizens taking these limited parking spaces, even though the handicapped family member is not with them. He asked how the wounded warrior would be identified.

Andreshak agreed, saying the idea sounded good at first, but he could see where there is potential for abuse.