Meeting Minutes 🎖
March 2025
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – March 5, 2025, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Ed Hood, John Folsom, Eugenia Simmons, Gail Ernst, Fred Ingley, Alex (Butch) Topicz, Earnest (Ernie) Reed, Johnny Roberts, Tina Spears, Brian Caldwell, Brooklyn Enders, Kenny Nwoko, Grant Kimball, Paul Rogerson, Rodney Keener, Henry Lowery, Tony Minichello, Andy Janacek, Akin Akinyemi, Frank Roycraft, Barry Roberts, Mary LaBatt, Sarah Parker-Pike, Craig Benner, Dan Hendrickson, Ben Ringvelski, Jeff Obos, Kaitlyn Grimes, Austin Maredith, Berline Belizaire, Raymond Miller Dan Hendrickson, Richard Duley, Fred Ingley, Gail Ernst, Tom McCluskey, Nell Hewitt, Omar Guzman-Toro, Eric Smith, Tom Carney, Ed Gifford, Marc Dickieson, Roxann Dressel, Gordon Lightfoot, 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 American Flag to open the meeting and a salute to the American Flag to close the meeting. He asked Earnest Reed to deliver a prayer to open the meeting and close the meeting. Ed welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to sign in, to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, to silence their phones, specifically reminded everyone that there are to be no politics or personal attacks, and invited Marc Dickieson to begin. See comments below.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at Chow Time. A monthly fundraiser is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts will be sold. It has already been held this month so buy your donuts next month – the first Sunday. Contact him for more information.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Legislative session has begun. Veteran representatives are Stuart Scott and Eric King. When the legislature meets with discussion they look for covers. So please show up with your covers. Post 3308 honors first responders which recognition will be held on March 20 at 6 pm at the Moose Lodge.
Tina Spears, Quality Care Manager, Right at Home. No report. See her if you have any questions.
Brian Caldwell, Big Bend Hospice. No report.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, FRA Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. FRA Branch 34 did well with the essays as three received awards but no one moved up.
Earnest Reed, Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 34 AmVets; American Legion. No report.
Johnnie Roberts. No report.
Eugenia Simmons, Director, Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). March 26 at 3pm will be the Final Salute at the TNC Committal Shelter #2. March 27 at 3 pm will be the Vietnam Commemoration at the Flag Assembly Area; a tribute to all who served in Vietnam.
Rodney Keener, American Legion Post 13, 1st Vice Commander. Thank you for all you do. No report.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard. Reporting for Chuck Howell. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed military honors at 26 interments in February; they usually have 8-10 members at each interment. The BBHG also reported 520 volunteer hours to the VA for the month of February. Since the cemetery opened the BBG has performed 1,327 interments.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Force Association. No report.
Paul Rogerson, AmVets. No report.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. On Friday, May 2 at 10:30 am there will be held a Spring Commission Ceremony at the FAMU School of Pharmacy.
Sarah Parker-Pike, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Call her if you need help!
Barry Roberts, American Legion, State Chaplain. Establishing a veterans Suicide Farm. He needs a stump grinder and a clearing grappler. It would be awesome if someone had one or both of these items. See him for more details.
Brooklyn Enders, Local Veteran’s Employment Representative, CareerSource Capital Region. Find a Job Friday will be held of March 14 at the Leon County CareerSource Capital Region Office and on March 21 at the Gadsden CareerSource Capital Region Office; both sessions are from 9 to 11am. Coffee with a Veteran in partnership with the Monticello American Legion Post 49 will be held on Thursday, March 27 from 9am to 11am at the Cowhaus Coffee Company on the circle in Monticello.
Kenny Nwoko, Career Source Capital Region. Works with Brooklyn Enders. No report.
Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville and 1st Vice Chair of American Legion District 2. The Lions Club will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. District 2 will hold its meeting on May 17 in Marianna at 9am Eastern time and 8am central time.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home. The “old” Vietnam Wall replica was donated to Fort Benning. He is working on bringing the “new” Vietnam Wall replica to Tallahassee.
Nell Hewitt, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. No report.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Richard Duley, DAV Commander Chapter 5, Service Officer VA Clinic. Ninety here claims. Veterans need to understand a power of attorney. The VA does NOT pay for a veteran patient’s nursing facility. If a supplemental claim is made, a new form is needed. Please DO NOT provide his private email and phone number to veterans. Thank you.
Fred Ingley, MOAA, Tallahassee Chapter. The Military Officers Association (MOAA) Tallahassee Chapter is excited to announce that FSU Football Head Coach Mike Norvell will be the speaker at its April 21 dinner. We would like to share this opportunity with other veterans in the area and welcome you to join us. The dinner will be held at the Tallahassee Elks Lodge on Magnolia Drive from 5-8 pm; a full house is anticipated so seating is limited. Tickets are $30 (cash or check only). Tickets will be available at the March meeting and if any are still available at the April Old Guard Second Tuesday Lunch as well as at the April Commander’s Coalition meeting. Please contact Cheryl Walters, MOAA Tallahassee Chapter President at 850-212-7009 or moaatlhprez@gmail.com with any questions.
Gail Ernst, Air Force Association, MOAA. No report.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department (formerly with Mission BBQ). Hello friends. Reminder that school zone speeds are photo enforced. They are currently active at Kate Sullivan and Raa Middle School when school zone lights are flashing. Ten miles over at other times will also result in a speeding ticket. McDonald’s will donate a percentage % of sales from 11am - 2pm at the 300 S. Magnolia location on March 21 and from 7am - 9am at the 3438 Thomasville Road location on March 28; proceeds will benefit the TPD Team Relay for Life. At the Vietnam Commemoration last year Mission BBQ gave away 164 free sandwiches. Claim yours before or after the Vietnam Commemoration this year on March 27 at 3pm at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. The Springtime Tallahassee Parade is March 29 at 10:30am; TPD will be in the parade.
Austin Meredith, Tallahassee Police Department. No report.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Tomorrow, March 6, and every Thursday a legal clinic will be held at American Legion Post 13 from 3-pm. Set up begins at 2pm. Please be there to help. They handle a variety of issues from all over the country. There are five certified VA attorneys. The Veterans Treatment Court has an opportunity to be strengthened and you may have an opportunity to testify.
Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. No report.
Ed Gifford, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Post held the 80th Anniversary of the flag raising on Iwo Jima in honor of “Boots” Thomas. About 150 people were in attendance. At $5 apiece you can buy a chance to win a raffle of a new Henry .22 rifle or a .22 semi-automatic pistol or a Chiappa M1 9mm replica carbine. Winning tickets will be drawn on May 26 at Post 49 at the Memorial Day lunch. Flyers were made available.
Tony Minichiello, Commander, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. He wanted to remind everyone that Armed Forces Day is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of May. He introduced his wife, Linda.
Akin Akinyemi Leon County Property Appraiser. Thank you for all you do. He will let his esteemed colleague give the report.
Andy Janacek, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. Thank you for all of your support in February. The Property Appraiser’s Office was able to do 24 events; it was a great month and the Property Appraiser’ Office is able to provide a valuable service to veterans.
Omar Guzman-Toro, Paralegal, Veterans’ Legal Collaborative, Legal Services of North Florida. No report. Legal Services is looking for a veteran services attorney. Please let him know if you know of someone.
Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776. Come to Carabelle this weekend for good food, yelling, and a great time. The Camp Gordon Johnston celebration honoring all veterans will begin with a parade on March 8 at 10:30amthat goes thru downtown Carabelle. Flyers were made available.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776, VFW, American Legion. The 15th Annual AmVets Golf Tournament will be held on April 28, 2025. Camp Gordon Johnston this weekend is a maybe.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. June 14 is a Saturday so the FLHSMV Annual Veterans Recognition Day will be held on June 13. More information to come.
Raymond Miller, Chief Operating Officer, Florida Veterans Foundation. April 1 from 5-7pm is the legislative reception on the 22nd floor of the Capitol. Park in Kleman Plaza. Everyone is invited. One million dollars was allocated by the legislature for veterans’ dental last year. It is currently in rule making. April 2 will be the Veterans Day celebration on the 3rd floor of the Capitol; it will last all day.
Jeff Obos, Public Information Administrator, FDVA. The press conference to announce the dental bill/rule will be on the 4th floor, time to be determined. See him if there are questions; 850-782-4314.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. He asked Chaplain Barry Roberts about the “back ordered” ROTC medals.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13. There is an April 1st deadline for First Responders and Teacher of the year as well as Medical and Nursing School Scholarships. Contact Ed Hood at ADJUTANT@FLORIDALEGIONPOST13.ORG for an application. You do not have to be a veteran. Flyers were made available. Chiles baseball honoring veterans will be Friday, March 7 at 5:30 the game starts at 6:00. Ed hood will throw out the first pitch. General admission is $8 and is free for veterans. When he sends emails regarding bills, go to the website for info. Look for emails from the legislature re bills.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. Marianne thanked Eugenia Simmons for her report on Final Salute on March 26 at 3pm and the Vietnam Commemoration on March 27 at 3pm. at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). Efforts will continue to increase attendance at Final Salute (held quarterly on the last Wednesday of the month at 3 pm) that honors veterans previously interred at the TNC without military honors. Those veterans deserve your honor and your attendance. The next meeting of the Support Committee will be Tuesday, April 16, 5 pm at the TNC conference room. The meeting usually lasts 1 hour and everyone is welcome.
The meeting ended with a prayer by Ernest Reed and Ed Hood leading a salute to the Flag.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
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PLEASE PLEASE start emailing digital copies of your fliers. Many times I do not have a flyer to send out with the meeting minutes. Send your flyers to HQ@commanderscoalition.org I spend good money each month in order to separate coalition news from personal emails. HQ@commanderscoalition.org