COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
July 2, 2025, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Marc Dickieson, John Folsom, Ed Hood, Chuck Howell, Dennis Hall, Eric Smith, Dan Hendrickson, Susan Caplowe, Frank Roycraft, Tony Minichello, Melissa Sheridan, Grant Kimball, Ben Ringvelski, Donna Washington, Cyndy Myers, Omar Guzman-Toro, Gary Futrell, Valencia Scott, Muriel Kweyama, Shamika Thornton, Donald Mackey, Courtney Thomas, Ernest Reed, Tom Carney, Kaitlyn Grimes, Gordon Lightfoot, Berline Belizaire, Valencia Scott, Paula Hubert, Raymond Rogerson, Courtney Thomas, Rob Winchester, Roxann Dressel, Shawn Schwartz, Brooklyn Enders, Mary LaBatt, Chris Wilson, Dan Paasch, Mike Hazell, Tom McCluskey, Michael Mann, Debra Mann, and Marianne Trussell.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472, 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 Earnest Reed to deliver a prayer. Marc welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, and keep it veteran business only, no personal business, and no politics. He then handed the microphone to Courtney Thomas to begin.
Courtney Thomas, Office of Mayor Dailey. No report. The City will celebrate the 4th of July at Tom Brown Park; the festivities begin at 6 pm with fireworks to begin around 9:45 pm.
Earnest Reed, Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 34. No report.
Melissa Sheridan, Administrative Officer, Tallahassee National Cemetery. The cemetery has a new acting interim director. He is currently the director of the National Cemetery in Jacksonville. Mr. Morris will be at the Tallahassee National Cemetery until a new permanent director can be hired and onboard.
Shemika Thornton, Family Promise of the Big Bend. No report.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. The Post is doing well. He gave a big thank you to Ed Hood. Post 3308 helped out veterans at Vet Village with food items and cash.
Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. No report.
Dennis Hall, Army National Guard, Big Bend Honor Guard, New Commander American Legion Post 13. There is a luncheon at the National Guard Armory at 1225 Easterwood Drive every second Tuesday at 11:30; the next luncheon will be Tuesday, July 8. Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. The menu will include hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and Peach Betty. All are welcome. A small donation is requested, but even if you can’t donate you can still join in the luncheon. He apologized as the new Commander for the manner in which he was dressed; he actually thought today was Tuesday.
Donna Washington, Tallahassee VA Clinic. No Report.
Brooklyn Enders, Local Veteran’s Employment Representative, CareerSource Capital Region. Works with veterans and others find a job. On July 22 there will be a Jefferson County Hiring Fair from 9 am till 12 noon at the K12 School, 50 David Road in Monticello. On July 24 from 9-11 am Post 49 will host “Coffee with a Veteran” Cowhaus Coffee Co., 100 N. Jefferson Street in Monticello. The next Find a Job Friday (see flyer) will be July 11 from 9 am till 11 am in Leon County at 2601 Blair Stone Road, Bldg. C, Suite 200, Tallahassee. See flyer for additional dates and locations.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville and 1st Vice Chair of American Legion District 2. No report.
Muriel Kewyama, New President of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department (previously with Mission BBQ). July 19 – Summer Cool Down Saturday at Tom Brown Park Amphitheatre Area
July 28-31 from 5:30-8:30 pm at 4075 Esplanade Way, TPD and Florida Capitol Police will hold a radKIDS class for kids ages 7-12 (see flyer for additional details).
August 2 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Walmart on Apalachee Parkway, TPD will host a Pack the Parol Car with donations to fill 200 backpacks for students in need.
August 5 – TPD will host National Night Out from 6 pm – 9 pm at Cascades Park near the Amphitheatre.
On behalf of Mission BBQ, July 27 (apologies if you received an email from her that said June). It’s really July 27 (see flyer) Mission BBQ wants to thank all Korean War Veterans on Armistice Day; all Korean War Veterans will receive a FREE sandwich from Mission BBQ; those coming in at noon will also receive a lapel pin.
Shawn Schwartz, Gold Star Mother. Thank you for hosting the event last week. The responsiveness of the VA representative is/was wonderful.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed 18 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery which included Final Salute (done quarterly for those veterans interred without honors) at which 8 veterans were honored. During the month of June approximately 340 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,393 interments since the cemetery opened.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Forces Association. The AFA Florida state convention will be a held on July 19 at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. The quarterly meeting of the Budwest Chapter will be held on the last Wednesday of the month.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home. No report.
Rob Winchester, Camp Gordon Johnston Museum, Carrabelle, Fl. Sincerely apologized for his role in what happened last month.
Donald Mackey, SSVF case manager, Family Promise of the Big Bend. No report.
Ed Hood, Communications Coordinator, Commanders Coalition. Please take everything on the tables. There is support available but Holiday for Heroes needs a VSO or some other organization with a 501c3 designation to head it up. Not only provides veterans with a Christmas tree but two strings of lights and a stand free of charge. Please help. K9’s for Warriors Fundraiser-Dog Days of Summer has been cancelled because of the anticipated heat.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard, DAV Chapter 5. Tomorrow at 11 am will be the interment of an 89 year old veteran with limited family. If you are able to attend, please do so.
Paul Rogerson, AmVets Post 1776. No report.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776. No report. Thanks for all of your concern for my wife and me. A caregiver is often overlooked. He is “back in the saddle”. AmVets meets on the 1st Thursday of every month at 6:30 at Glory Days.
Dan Paasch, Office of Senator Ashley Moody. If you are having problems with any federal agency call his office. The application process for service academies is ongoing. See him if you need help or an application.
Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Post 49 will host a 4th of July picnic beginning at 11. On July 24 from 9-11 am Post 49 will host “Coffee with a Veteran” Cowhaus Coffee Co., 100 N. Jefferson Street in Monticello.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow from 3-5 pm. The Leon County Courthouse next Monday Veterans Court has been canceled. July 21 will be the next Veterans Court at 3:00 pm. Eight projects were canceled in the budget.
Susan (Susie) Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Donate. Reinstatement fees are expensive.
Cyndy Myers, Legal Services of North Florida. She is the E-veteran attorney.
Gary Futrell, American Legion Post l3, Public Affairs Officer. No report.
Omar Guzman-Toro, Paralegal, Legal Services of North Florida, Veterans Legal Collaborative. He is leaving his position on August 21, 2025. He would like to train his replacement. Please see him for details.
Mike Hazell, Interim Chair, North Florida/South Georgia Veteran Wellness Coalition. The organization meets on the first Wednesday at noon at the American Legion Post l3. The special speaker today will be Dr. Brian Moore; there will be elections for the coalition and outreach will be forthcoming.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. No report.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
Heather Stephens, VA Suicide Prevention. No Report.
Valencia Scott, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. Akin Akinyemi sends his regrets but he had another commitment. They are always available. Please contact them.
Chris Wilson, Major Morale. He has had a bad day! The cost of Major Morale has gone up $500. He was supposed to bring donuts for everyone but when he got there - nada, the employee had forgotten. You or your organization can receive a free koozie or a lapel pin for sending a subscription to a friend. Help Major Morale. His email address is on the top right-hand corner of every issue.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion. The Sons of the Legion will meet at the American Legion Post 13 at 6:00 pm on July 31. 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.
Debra Mann, American Legion Post 241, District 2 President. The District is the second largest in the country. The National American Legion Convention will be held August 22-28 at the J.W. Marriott in Tampa.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. They had a great convention. Thank you FDVA.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at Chow Time at 6:00 pm. The next meeting will be on July 31. A monthly fundraiser is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts will be sold. It is taking longer and longer to get the donuts sold, so please come out this Saturday and buy donuts. Contact him for more information.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. If you have news get it to Major Morale, see page 10. The best of the best are here; it’s a big success; share the information.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. Marianne Trussell explained the she had met Mr. Morris and he will be an excellent interim director until a full-time director can be hired and onboard. The next Support Committee meeting will be held in the Administration Building conference room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery on July 15, 2025, a 5pm. All are welcome to attend whether a member or not. There are no dues.
Marc Dickieson ended the meeting with a prayer by Eric Smith and a salute to the American Flag.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
