http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091102/NEWS01/911020310/1006/news01/City+will+reassess+veterans+holiday
City will reassess veterans holiday
MELBOURNE — MELBOURNE -- Veterans Day could return as an official Melbourne holiday starting next year.
Melbourne will revisit its holiday schedule when city workers start contract negotiations in six months with two of the three unions, City Manager Jack Schluckebier said.
"We will certainly bring that to the table and see if we can make some headway with it," he said.
Veterans Day and Presidents Day were dropped as city holidays this year in an effort to trim Melbourne's budget. The decision meant that City Hall stays open on those days. The change saved the city more than $120,000 in overtime costs.
The city council eliminated two holidays but allowed the unions to select which days to cut. In exchange, employees received two vacation days.
But eliminating Veterans Day offended veterans groups, which spoke against the change.
"I think moving Veterans Day to another day other than Nov. 11 would be disrespectful to our retired servicemen and also those who are active now in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Gerald Agerstrand of the American Legion.
It's too late to make changes this year.
Contact Cervenka at 242-3632 or scervenka@floridatoday.com.No tip of the hat to Melbourne.
Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
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