March Meeting Minutes 📝
🐉 29 March is National Vietnam War Veterans Day- Thank a Vietnam Vet and welcome them home
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
March 6, 2024, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Ed Hood, John Folsom, Alex (Butch) Topicz, Earnest Reed, Nell Hewitt, Chuck Howell, Eric Smith, Doyle Combs, Tony Minichiello, Dan Hendrickson, Susan Caplowe, Craig Benner, Johnnie Roberts, Frank Roycraft, Henry Lowery, Joe West, Roxann Dressel, Mary LaBatt, Marc Dickieson, Ed Gifford, Rodney Kenner, Nancy Horbowy, Thaddeus Horbowy, Amanda Daughtry, Washington Sanchez, Donna Barron, Kent Watson, Ben Ringvelski, Exit Smith, Andy Janeck, Akin Akinyemi, Nicole Dempsey, Berline Belizaire, Gabriel Trollinger, Steven Passetti, Dan Paasch, John Dailey, Gordon Lightfoot, Raymond (Paul) Rogerson, Brooklyn Enders, Chris Wilson, Lori Fitzpatrick, David Wilson, Lena Lewis, Richard Duley, Eric Evans, Gail Ernst, Tom Carney, Karen Bauer, Marianne Scholer, Paula Hubert, Keisha Washington, Eddie McMillian, Michael Mann, Charles LeCroy, Jay Monismith, Liz Crawford, and Marianne Trussell.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13 led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meeting and a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. He asked Ernest Reed to give a prayer. Ed welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, and identify themselves and their organization, and invited Raymond (Paul) Rogerson to begin. See comments below.
Raymond (Paul) Rogerson, AmVets Post 1776. No report.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Everything is going well. No report.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Save the Date of June 14 at noon for the Annual Veteran Event. More information to come.
Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776. Come to the Camp Gordon Johnson Parade this Saturday, March 9, at 10:45 a.m. ET in Carabelle, followed by the Dice Run at 11:30 a.m. Please attend. Henry was an inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame recently. He is very proud. Thank you everyone.
Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. She is very involved in efforts that support veteran issues. She comes today to talk about One Dream Flights. Tallahassee is a stop for a WWII biplane; the flights of which are called Dream Flights. The date has been set for March 27 for WWII and Korean War veterans. 1-3 are currently signed up. If more than 8-9 sign up another date for the others will be scheduled. Flyers were available. Contact Liz at 850-443-5494 for more details.
Chris Wilson, Publisher of Major Morale. Page 10 – it is full. Check it out. Chris can be contacted at Publisher@youcanwin.com.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Force Association. The next meeting is April 9 at 6 pm at Chow Time on Capital Circle NE.
Ed Gifford, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. The Post is holding a raffle, tickets are $5 each, there will be two drawings/winners determined on May 27. The first drawing will be for a S&W M&P-15,.556 and the second drawing will be for a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol. The winner(s) need not be present.
Kent Watson, VFW Post 251, Jefferson County. Students interested in an academic field trip are asked to contact him at Post 251.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776. The date of the AmVets 14th Annual Golf Tournament is Monday, April 22, 2024. Players and sponsors are needed. There will be a silent auction There are many opportunities for both players and sponsors. Flyers were available.
Tony Minichiello, Commander, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. They gave two young men selected for Boys State. He will celebrate 61 years married next month. Congratulations were offered by all.
David Wilson, AmVets, Vet Events Tally, Air Force Association. He handed out flyers about the “2024 Visit to Memory Gardens Cemetery” to honor six veterans on Sunday, March 24 at 4 pm (meet at the entrance closest to the office); six veterans at Roselawn Cemetery on Sunday April 28 at 4 pm (meet at the entrance closest to NFC School); and eight veterans at Roseland Cemetery in Monticello on Sunday, May 19 at 4 pm (meet at the entrance).
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaboration. Help is still needed. Legal Clinics are held every Thursday at America Legion Post l3 from 3-5. Set up begins at 2 pm. Please be there to help. There will be a Veterans Drug Treatment Court graduation on Monday, March 18 at 3 pm on the second floor of the courthouse. Please attend. Mentors are still needed – the needs are great. You don’t have to be an attorney to volunteer. Please watch the new very history project and Highway 59 in Jefferson County for Major Haynes on the Florida Channel.
Susan Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaboration. Today there is a Farm Share distribution – please let her know of locales that would welcome food.
Dan Paasch, Capital Regional Director, Marco Rubio’s Office. Service Academy Applications go live this week.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. No report.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
Rodney Keener, American Legion Post 13. Be the One program. Grants are available for local organizations for mental health programs. Become a mentor to vets in crisis. Questions, get with him.
Nicole Dempsey, Department of Veterans Affairs, Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Concerned organizations should get involved.
Gabriel Trollinger, Family Promise, SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families). Offers supportive services for non-clinical, non-medical issues.
Steven Passetti, Family Promise, SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families). Contact the with homelessness issues.
Charles LeCroy, American Legion Post 13. Former Commander of Post 13. There are lots of veteran activities going on all the time. Introduced his daughter.
Joseph B. (Jay) Monismith, Operations Officer, Tallahassee VA Outpatient Clinic. On March 5, 2024, all veterans who believe they have been exposed to a toxic risk hazard during active duty are eligible to make a claim. This is separate from the burn pit legislation. Please attend the Robert A. Wise chili cookoff on March 9 from 11-4:30 at the National Guard Armory on Easterwood Drive; price is $12 at the event. All proceeds go to Honor Flight.
Eric Evans, Fl Cares, Inc. Works on accessibility issues (ramps, half steps, etc.) for veterans and spouses and children of veterans in Wakulla, Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson Counties. 100% volunteer organization. Constructs exterior accessibility. Groups are ready but they need projects. That does not make sense, does it. The word needs to get out; everyone knows someone who needs assistance. Call or text him at 850-347-1445.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, FRA Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. CVMA is holding a Booze Raffle; chances are $5 for 1 or $20 for 5. Darwing is April 13 during the Tallahassee Bike Fest. You do not need to be present to win. FRA holds an essay contest each year. This year’s winner is the sister of last year’s winner. Like her sister this young lady will compete in Nationals.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Andy Janecek, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. Property tax exemptions were due March 1. Thank you to everyone for your support.
Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser. It’s an honor to be here. The big bill to removed age limits costs a lot; instead doubled the amount. Did not pass. Maybe in the future they will continue to fight.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion, American Legion Post 13. The next meeting will be Saturday, March 16 at 10 am. Please attend and if interested please attend. Thanks to Ed Hood for help.
Earnest Reed, President, Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 34. No report.
Johnnie Roberts, AmVets. No report.
Marianne Scholer, member, Women Veterans Unite. No report.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. No report.
Karen Bauer, Women Veterans Unite. It’s the third year for the raffle fundraiser for the Women Veterans Unite retreat. Tickets for a half day spa are 3 for $10.00. Please buy your tickets from any member.
Joe West, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 96. No report.
Lori Fitzpatrick, Director of Quality Care, Right at Home. Veteran preferred business. Happy to announce the step-by-step procedures brochure designed especially for veterans to receive non-medical assistance available for chronically ill or disabled veterans of any age to help them stay at home are ready. They serve Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla Counties. Veterans need a doctor’s referral. They do help folks in facilities. Flyers are available. See or call her at 850-765-4701.
Roxann Dressel, Commander American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville. There are limited hours at the Wakulla Legion. But they are there and available.
Doyle Combs, Commander, American Legion District 2. Voting will take place on May 18 at 10 am EDT n Marianna at Post 100.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard, Chaplain AL Post 13. Final Salute will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery at 3 pm for all who were interred without military honors. Please attend.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. Nineteen active members. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed 43 interments to date this year for a total of over 800 volunteer hours. The BBHG have had 1160 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery since 2016 for a total of approximately 23,000 volunteer hours.
Richard Duley, DAV Commander Chapter 5, Service Officer. The VA claim process is complicated. VA claims are using AI. It looks through your entire file. Be very careful before submitting a claim because once denied (even if improperly) it becomes a negative in the file. Get professional assistance. Do your research!!
Nell Hewitt, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. Two young women are ready for Girls State as are two Alternates. Thank you. On March 23 there will be a luncheon at noon in honor of Women’s History Month.
Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Dunn’s Office. No report.
Gail Ernst, American Legion Auxiliary Post 13, Air Force Association, MOAA. There will be an event of MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) to kick off its 2024 membership recruitment effort. An Officer’s Call will be held at Mission BBQ on Saturday, April 6 from 11 am to 1 pm. New members will receive a free lunch and a free first year of membership.
Washington Sanchez, President, Tallahassee Veterans Outreach. Coordinates and organizes the Stand Down each year for homeless and at-risk veterans. This year it will be Friday May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the FAMU Lawson Center. Flyers will be available next month. Last year 250-300 veterans were served. On Saturday of the event spouses and caregivers will be eligible to partake of the services.
Donna Barron, Vice President, Tallahassee Stand Down. No report.
John Dailey, Mayor, City of Tallahassee. No report.
Keisha Washington, Veteran Resource Specialist, 211 Big Bend. No report. She points out that every organization here should be in her database. See her for details.
Eddie McMillian, 211 Big Bend. No report.
Lena Lewis, Survivor Outreach Services Support Coordinator. No report.
Brooklyn Enders, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. There will be a hiring fair tomorrow (Thursday) in Wakulla Couty at the Environmental Institute from 9-12. Flyers are available for Sports Ability. Thank you for all of your donations. Thanks to all. No report.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The next meeting will be on March 23 at noon at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home. Described discounts on all services. They also have a homeless veteran program and one that provides free services for first responders who die in the line of duty. There will be a Blood Drive on March 23 to which all are invited. Folders with detailed information are available to all.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. Impressed with the value people attending this meeting provide. He has cards to get the word out about the Commanders Coalition that meets the first Wednesday of every month. Thank you.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13. Operation Fair Shake will not interfere with any Vietnam Veterans Ceremony planned at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. He reminded everyone to sign in. He also reminded everyone that he cannot send out information about fundraisers through certain social media platforms.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. The next meeting of the Support Committee will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 5 pm at the Administration Building of the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). She meets with Eugenia Simmons, the director at the TNC, every ither week. There are no workdays currently scheduled. Thank you to Eric Smith for reminding everyone of the March 27 at 3 pm Final Salute service which lasts no more than 30 minutes. The Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration will be held at the TNC on Friday, March 29 at 3 pm. Open to all to attend. Congratulations to Henry Lowery on his induction to the Veterans Hall of Fame.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
END OF MEETING MINUTES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Hi Folks!
Please join us on March 29 for National Vietnam War Veterans Day. All day, we will be saying, “Thank you and Welcome Home” to All Vietnam Veterans...including Vietnam Era Veterans...with the gift of a Free Sandwich. Attached is a flyer for you to share with any Vietnam Veterans you know. Thank you for your support! We look forward to Serving you soon!
Proudly Serving Those Who Serve!
Kaitlyn Grimes
Regional Community Ambassador of North Florida
MISSION BBQ Tallahassee
mission-bbq.com
THANK YOU, KAITLYN, AND MISSION BBQ!!
HONOR FLIGHT
· April 29 is the date for this year’s Tallahassee Honor Flight to Washington DC.
· If you are interested in volunteering, getting involved or attending one of the Tallahassee events: Honor Flight Tallahassee
· If you aren’t familiar with Honor flight yet, please check out one of these videos: 2017 Honor Flight Tallahassee - YouTube
PORT ST. LUCIE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WAR MEMORIAL OF FLORIDA DEDICATION
The Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial of Florida This monument will honor Floridians who served in our nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Made from India Black Granite, (like the Vietnam War Memorial), this impressive monument will serve as an enduring reminder of the sacrifices made on behalf of our nation.
Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial coming to Port St. Lucie’s Veterans Memorial Park (youtube.com)
· Dedication Scheduled as follows:
· WHEN: Noon, Saturday, April 20, 2024
· WHERE: Veterans Park at Rivergate
2200 SE Veterans Memorial Parkway Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952
IF YOU SERVED IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN and want to carpool down to the memorial, let me know and we will figure out transportation.
-Edward W. Hood
1-850-510-9896