Meeting Minutes September 2025
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – September 3, 2025, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Tom Carney, John Folsom, Amanda Daughtry, Marc Dickieson, Ed Hood, Dennis Hall, Eric Smith, Frank Roycraft, Grant Kimball, Gordon Lightfoot, Ben Ringvelski, Ronnie (Mike) Michael, John Dailey, Alex (Butch) Topicz, Mary LaBatt, Heather Stephens, Gary Futrell, Henry Lowery, Charles LeCroy, Derek Hubble, Marc Dickieson, Kaitlyn Grimes, Beverly Shirley, David Wilson, Craig Benner, Berline Belizaire, Valencia Scott, Andy Janacek, Paula Hubert, Roxann Dressel, Brooklyn Enders, Donna Washington, TomMcCluskey, Ed Rodriguez, Gail Ernst, Michael Mann, and Marianne Trussell.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Forces Association 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 Eric Smith to deliver a prayer to open and close the meeting. Tom 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 Amanda Daughtry to begin.
Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Reach out to her if help is needed.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, FRA Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Essay contest has started. There will be a motorcycle ride on September 14 at 10:30 by the Defenders LawEnforcement Club; the escorted ride will begin at the Red Cross on Easterwood Drive.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Liz Crawford, Owner and Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee asked him to announce that Dream Flights will take place this year in November; dates are not yet determined. The first time in 125 years there is an elected female as the commander of the National VFW. He will be commander of Post 3308 for another year.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. Gave a very nice tribute to Delores Gaden who was an invaluable member to the Marine Corps League and many other organizations. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at 1800 hours at a new location – The Elks Lodge on Magnolia. A fundraiser is held on the first Saturday of the month at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts are sold. It is taking longer and longer to get the donuts sold, please come out and buy donuts so that none are left. Contact him for more information.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets 1776. Thanks for all you do. AmVets 1776 has also found a new home for its meetings – AmVets 1776 will meet on the first Thursday of the month (tomorrow) at theElks Lodge on Magnolia at 6:30 pm. On November15 AmVets 1776 will hold its Turkey Shoot. Flyers will be available next month.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. He is retiring.Military Appreciation Football Games are: FAMU - Saturday, November 1 against Jackson State. Free tickets are available on a first come first served basis. FSU – November 15, time TBD. There are no free tickets for any game. November 7 is the NROTC & Marine Corps League, Navy & Marine Corps 250th Birthday Ball. (Details to follow on tickets/pricings/times, etc will be forthcoming.) On September 11 at 8:30 am there will be a Tallahassee Remembrance Ceremony at the Red Cross (9/11 BeamMemorial) on Easterwood Drive. He introduced Mike Michael, USMC, his replacement.
Ronnie (Mike) Michael, USMC, NROTC Unit FAMU. Ben’s replacement.
Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. No report.
Edwin (Ed) Rodriguez, Second Vice Commander, American Legion Post 13. He is in charge of the yards around the Legion; please patronize the Black Dog Café if you do not already.
Donna Washington, Tallahassee VA Clinic. Flu shots will be available November 18, time to be determined,
Dennis Hall, Commander, American Legion Post 13; Army National Guard; Big Bend Honor Guard. On September 19, 2025, at 8 pm the POW/MIA Ceremony will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery at the Administration Building. It is suggested you arrive at the Tallahassee National Cemetery at 7 pm. On November 11, 2025, Veterans Day, there will be a pre-parade breakfast from 6-9 am at American Legion Post 13. Everyone is invited. On November 22 from 1-3 there will be a flag retirement at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum on Mahan Drive. It has been requested that a flag retirement be held at that location every month between November and April but only November has been responded to. Everyone is welcome. There is a luncheon at the National Guard Armory at 1225 Easterwood Drive every month on the second Tuesday at 11:30; the next luncheon will be Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. The menu will include spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, and Peach Betty. A small donation is requested, but even if you can’t donate you can still join in the luncheon. Consider this a formal invitation to join the American Legion Post 13.
Charles LeCroy, past Commander, American Legion Post 13. Mingle with veterans. Have a great day. Mark your calendars for Veterans Day!
Brooklyn Enders, Local Veteran’s Employment Representative, CareerSource Capital Region. No report.
Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville; Commander, American Legion District 2. Post 114 Veterans Day celebrations will be on Saturday November 8. If you are interested in being a vendor that day youneed to apply NOW as the Parks Dept. is limiting vendors to 50. The VA is holding S.A.V.E. training on Thursday, September 18 from 11 am till noon at the Wakulla County Public Library main meeting room. Flyers were made available.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department(previously with Mission BBQ). A Citizens Police Academy will begin on September 16. It is a 9-week course that meets from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Beverly Shirley, Community Representative, Mission BBG. First Responders and Police will be honored on September 11 atMission BBQ; the program will begin at noon. A WW II veteran will celebrate his birthday atMission BBQ on September 30 at 11:30. Hernumber is 229-220-0169 and her email is Commuity32301@Mission–BBQ.com.
Eric Smth, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed 13 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery during the month of August and approximately 230 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. Since the Cemetery opened in 2015, the BBHG has performed 1,421 interments at the end of August.
Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776. No report. “Remember me”; he’s feeling good.
Dr. Gary Futrell, Public Affairs, American Legion Post 13, Social Media Specialist. Please fill out the form left on the table or scan the QR code to fill out the form online. The information is for the comprehensive directory of veteran service organizations (VSOs) being put together by AL Post 13.
David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Forces Association. On September 18 at 9:00 am at the Tallahassee National Cemetery there will be a dedication ceremony of the POW/MIA monument on the Memorial Walk. The monument will be located next to the existing Purple Heart monument on the Memorial Walk. All are welcome.
Ed Hood, Commanders Coalition Send your any news/information by 9AM Friday to be included in the Weekly Report! He appreciates all of the POW/MIA ceremonies and recognition as he is a Gold Star family member.
John Dailey, Office of Mayor. No report. The street in front of the American Legion is getting paved today.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. Everything is going well with Women Veterans Unite. Please see her for more information.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. There will be a salute to all POW/MIAs on National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Friday, September 19 at 12 noon at the FLHSMV’s Kirkman Building’s Flagpole. Everyone is invited. Flyers were made available.
Heather Stephens, VA Suicide Prevention. No Report.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home; Chair, N. Florida S. Georgia Veteran Coalition, Veteran. September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Five Hundred veterans a year commit suicide in Florida – let’s do something about that number. There will be an Out of the Darkness Walk on Sunday, November 2 at 1 pm at Cascades Park. Register at afsp.org/tallahassee. Flyers were available. On November 6 there will be a run at Southern Philosophy, 114 E. Broughton St. in Bainbridge, Georgia. Donations can be made at NAMI Tallahassee Inc. website. There are flyers on the tables regarding Culley’s Funeral Home discounts for coalition members (veterans) for pre-arranged funerals and cremations with an additional discount if paid in full. Discounts are available September 1-30.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. There will be a Veterans Resource Fair in Jacksonville, on September 11 from 10 am to 2 pm. The Fair will be held at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A Phillip Randolph Blvd., in Jacksonville. Flyers were available. On September 23, from 9 am to 2 pm there will a recognition that September is Suicide Prevention Month. The event will be held at the VA Clinic, 2181 East Orange Avenue in Tallahassee.Training will be in the 3rd floor conference room from 12 noon to 2 pm and includes lunch; pre-registration is required. Flyers were available with a QR code and a phone number.
Tom Napier, Honor Flight Tallahassee. Car Show flyers are on the tables. The Car Show is on October 18 at the Moose Lodge, 1478 Capital Circle NW from 9am till noon. All proceeds go to Honor Flight. Other Important dates (mark your calendars) include:December 6 at 5 pm there will be the reunion (free) dinner for all veterans and guardians at the National Guard Armory on Easterwood Drive. April 18, 2026, will be the next Honor Flight Tallahassee. Sixty-two (62) veterans have already. Apply now!
Valencia Scott, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. She hopes everyone received the newly re-designed Truth In Millage. It is not a bill, but rather what your bill will look like. September 12 is the deadline to contest value appraisals. They are always available. Please contact them with your questions.
Andy Janacek, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. No report. He spoke on behalf of Dan Hendrickson who is not here because he is under the weather. The TVLC will be at Post 13 tomorrow from 3-5 pm. On Saturday, October 18 there will be a Poker Run with lots of “extras” starting at the Capital City Harley Davidson; all proceeds will go to the TVLC and the Tallahassee Civic Chorale. Call 850-867-5309 for more information.
Derek Hubbell, Family Promise of the Big Bend. No report.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report. If anyone needs volunteers, please contact her.
Gail Ernst, MOAA, American Legion Auxiliary. I am thrilled to share that Major General Mike Snodgrass is returning to speak to MOAA Tallahassee again. His topics are always relevant and interesting, and he's able to share how current events are being impacted by world events. I hope you will join us to hear him talk about the collapse of Iran's Axis of Resistance and the future of peace in the Middle East. He may also discuss other world events, possible outcomes of President Trump's policies, and how internal pressures are forcing changes to how Iran proceeds going forward and possible outcomes if time permits.
General Snodgrass is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours, 200+ of those in combat. He had over 100 combat missions in Iraq from 1996 through 2000 as both a squadron commander and Commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group, Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. He was U.S. Air Force Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs; responsible for formulating and executing USAF Policy, Strategy and Programs for Building Partnerships and integrating Air Force policy with international partner goals, totaling over $40 billion total program value. General Snodgrass retired in 2011. He is currently president of SG Strategic Solutions LLC.
Please use this link to register. MOAA member dinner costs are $28, all others $30. We welcome all veterans, regardless of rank, to attend. RSVP windows close Sunday, September 7.
• Check in and Happy Hour starts at 5 pm
• Business Meeting followed by dinner at 6 pm
• Speaker starts between 6:45-7:00 pm
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 13. The National Meeting was August 22-28; the National Meeting of the Sons of the Legion was August 22-24 and there are 400,000 members of the Sons nationwide. The next meeting of the Sons of the Legion will be on October 30 at 6 pm at the AL Post 13.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. Please sign in (legibly). Delores Gaden was a valued and fantastic member of the BigBend Honor Guard and many other organizations. She will be sorely missed. American Legion Post 13 will hold a flag retirement ceremony at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum from 1-3 on Saturday, November 22. Please attend; it is open to the public. Bob Ray recently passed and his service will be at Faith Presbyterian Church on Meridian this Friday, September 5 at 1 pm. John also talked about Charles LeCroy being more than just a former commander of AL Post 13. Charles actually saved Post 13, he is a Hall of Fame Veteran, and the list goes on and on. And he still comes to meetings.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Forces Association. The next meeting of the Association will be on Wednesday October 29 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Golden Corral on Monroe. Nominations are open and elections will be held – the association badly needs a secretary. Thank you for the notices about the POW/MIA monument dedication on September 18 at 9 am at the TNC Memorial Walk and the remembrance POW/MIA Ceremony on September 19 at 8 pm at the TNC Administration Building. Saturday, September 20 is the National AFA Meeting. He is a delegate.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. Marianne Trussell thanked David Wilson for advising everyone about the POW/MIA monument ceremony date and time and thanked Dennis Hall for sharing the date and time of the POW/MIA Ceremony at the TNC Administration Building. She explained that she will be out of town for both but will be able to help ensure that all needs are met. Final Salute will be held Wednesday, September 24 a 3 pm at Committal Shelter #1. She also said that nominations will be accepted and elections of the Support Committee will be held for chair and secretary at the next quarterly meeting which will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery Administration Building Conference Room at 5 pm on October 21. All are welcome to attend whether a member or not.
Tom Carney ended the meeting with a prayer by Eric Smith and a salute to the American Flag.