December 2025 Meeting Minutes 📝
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – December 3, 2025, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr, Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Jackie Johnson, John Folsom, Eric Smith,Chuck Howell, Tony Minichiello, David Wilson, FrankRoycraft, Donna Washington, Beverly Shirley, Craig Williams, Ritaann Schultz, Valencia Scott, Rob Winchester, L. J. Stuckey, Liz Crawford, Cindy Myers, Tina Caldwell, Charles LeCroy, Berline Belizaire, Mary LaBatt, Heather Stephens, Paula Hubert, Dennis Hall, Michael Mann, Debra Mann, and Marianne Trussell.
Jackie Johnson, DAV Chapter 5, Adjutant American Legion Post 13, Big Bend Honor Guard,led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meetingand a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. He asked Eric Smith to deliver an opening prayer. Jackiewelcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, and keep it veteran business only, no personal business, politics, or personal attacks. Liz Crawford began.
Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. Dream Flights and Sport Clips arecollecting new blankets and sheets for AmVets. Please drop off your donations are Sport Clips on Mahan Drive or Thomasville Road. Also, get a discount on haircuts.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Marc Dickieson of the Marine Corps League asked him to give a report. There is a big drive at Werner Hyundai tomorrow; they, in conjunction with WCTV Kindness Day, will be collecting toys and bicycles for Toys for Tots from 6 am to 6 pm.
David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Force Association. On Monday, December 8 at 11 am (lasts about 45 minutes) a Wreaths Across Americapresentation will be held (one of many across the nation at state capitols) at the plaza between the old and new capitol buildings in downtown Tallahassee. The Chiles’ choir will perform the National Anthem and other patriotic selections, all 4 JROTC units will participate, and Eric Smith will give the invocation. Everyone is welcome!
Craig Williams, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Neal Dunn sends his regards and a big Thank You for your service. As an update on the government shutdown, Congressman Dunn would like veterans to know that all claims are on the shelf but employees are working 15-18 hours a day and that the VA and Congress are working hard. Reach out to him or Amanda if help is needed.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed 18interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). The BBHG also participated in the Veterans Day parade with the rifle salute and by the playingof TAPS. During the month of Novemberapproximately 320 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,468 interments since the TNC opened in 2015.
Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello, AMVETS. There was a great turnout for the Turkey Shoot last month for AmVets. It was a success.
Charles LeCroy, Past Commander of American Legion Post 13. Thank you. Lots of activities. The Good News is that not everything has been discovered yet.
Valencia Scott, County Property Appraiser’s Office. Akin Akinyemi sends his thanks and his regrets for being unable to attend in person. They are always available to help with Property Tax exemptions. Please contact them.
Cindy Myers, Legal Services of North Florida. She is the attorney for veterans. Works with issues of homeless, veterans facing eviction, etc. Her father-in-law is a veteran and an inspiration; she gave a heartfelt explanation of his adventures.
Rob Winchester, Camp Gordon Johnston. They are still looking for a professional fundraiser. They need one who will work on a commission basis.
Tina Caldwell, Right at Home. VA Preferred Provider for in home care. Primarily service LeonCounty. If you have straight Medicare look for your notice about new hours that have been added to your benefits.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard, DAV Chapter 5. No report.
Dennis Hall, Commandant American Legion Post 13, Army National Guard, Big Bend Honor Guard. There is a luncheon at the National Guard Armory at 1225 Easterwood Drive every second Tuesday at 11:30. Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. Everyone is welcome. A $5 donation is collected. On November 11, 2025, Veterans Day, over450 breakfasts were served at the American Legion. On November 22 from 1-3 there was a flag retirement at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum on Mahan Drive. The next flag retirement will be on Saturday, January 24 from 1-3 at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum on Mahan Drive. Everyone is welcome. At Thanksgiving dinner over 450 people were served. Mission BBQ and all others were thanked!
Heather Stephens, Community Engagement Partnership Coordinator, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Suicide Prevention. She reported on a South Georgia Veterans Benefits Summit on January 24, 2026 from 9am to 4 pm. Flyers were provided which included her email information for your inquiries.
L. J. Stuckey. American Legion Post 502; N. Florida S. Georgia Family Veteran Alliance, RetiredVeteran. Here to take advantage of good information.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Beverly Shirley, Community Representative, Mission BBQ. Mission BBQ gave away over 1,00 sandwiches on Veterans Day - it was very humbling. Mission BBQ doesn’t usually open for breakfast, but Mission BBQ will be open for brunch onDecember 6 from 9 am to 10:30 am. There will be a singer and a color guard. Registration is required for this invitation only V.I.P. BBQ Just 4U. Register at Mission-bbq.com/BrunchRSVP. Mission BBQ is also a drop off location for Toys for Tots. A flyer was provided. On Sunday, December 7, in recognition of Pearl Harbor Day, all WWII veterans will eat free. Flyers were provided. Mission BBQ will be volunteering on December 13.
Donna Washington, Tallahassee VA Clinic. No report.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the LegionAmerican Legion Post 13. Sons of the Legion meets at the American Legion Post 13 at 6:30 pm. Please see him or attend the next meeting of the Sons of the Legion if you are the son or the grandson of a veteran. In November he went to the Sons Conference in Orlando. The training was very good.
Debra Mann, District 2 President. Helped with stuffing stockings for oversees veterans. All 16 districts participated in membership parade at the Conference. She then gave a report of the Department President’s visit. Units are gearing up for the holidays. On her second report, she gave an explanation ofDAV.
Ritaann Schultz, Member American Legion Post340. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Brain injury is rampant among veterans and functional therapies are vital. Updates will be provided on an event as the date gets closer. Tampa is one of only 5 in the US. Please contact her.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. Women Veterans Unite (WVU) is holding a fundraiser selling calendars containing lots of WVU and veteran information and dates for $10. See her to place your order.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, VFW.Thanked Craig, Amanda, and Daniel Paasch for their attendance. Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 1:00 pm the Sons of the American Revolution will be hosting a luncheon. Details and menu are being worked on. He checked with Donna Washington on behalf of Santa Claus.
Jackie Johnson, DAV Chapter 5, Adjutant American Legion Post 13, Big Bend Honor Guard. No report but wanted to remind everyone that the Veterans Administration makes the final decision on all claims. DAV only submits the paperwork.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. On behalf of the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC) Marianne read Melissa Sheridan’s report (she apologizes for not attending in person): If you would kindly thank everyone for their support in helping us reach our sponsorship goal for Wreaths Across America and remind them that the service is scheduled for 12/13/2025 at 1200 pm (noon) that would be great! I was also going to remind everyone that the cemetery was not built for parking, so please arrive early to help ensure we can get as many people as possible to the ceremony site on time. Also, the ceremony will be held at the flag assembly area this year, so please follow the instructions of ceremony team as things will likely be a little different than in years past. Other items that were on my list to cover were:
• Final Salute on December 17, 2025 at 1500 (3 pm).
• We are still navigating the post government shutdown hiring environment, so we don’t have any new information to report with respects to the hiring of a new permanent Cemetery Director.
Marianne added her thanks to everyone and every organization for meeting the TNC’s goal of 3,500 wreaths and added that there is a new interim director for the TNC. She also added behalf of the Support Committee that its next meeting of the Support Committee will be held on January 20, 2026, at 5 pm at the TNC at which the two elected or re-elected Board members will begin their 2-year terms.
Jackie Johnson ended the meeting with a prayer by Eric Smith and led a salute to the American Flag.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Wednesday, January 7, 2025, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.