October 2025 Meeting Minutes
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – October 1, 2025, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Ed Hood, John Folsom, Marc Dickieson, Dennis Hall, Eric Smith, Shawn Cloud, Dan Hendrickson, Susan Caplowe, Frank Roycraft, Grant Kimball, Ben Ringvelski, Mike Michael, Donna Washington, Beverly Shirley, Derrick Sykes, Matt Weber, Hilton Wise, Gary Futrell, Mike Simmons, Sonya Pace, Amanda Daughtry, Casey Taylor, Billy Holder, Ritaann Schultz, Valencia Scott, Courtney Thomas, Ernest Reed, Alex “Butch” Topicz, Tom Carney, Kaitlyn Grimes, Liz Crawford, Craig Benner, Tina Caldwell, Sharon Weeden, Gordon Lightfoot, Charles LeCroy, Berline Belizaire, Paula Hubert, Shawn Schwartz, Mary LaBatt, Michael Mann, and Marianne Trussell.
Ed Hood, National Commander, Commanders Coalition, 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 an opening prayer. Ed welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, and keep it veteran business only, no personal business, no politics and keep to keep it a brief with a 1-2 minute report. He then handed the microphone to Eric Smith to begin.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard, DAV Chapter 5. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed 12 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery and 2 special events. The 2 special events were the POW/MIA Remembrance and the Final Salute (done quarterly for those veterans interred without honors) at which 11 veterans were honored. During the month of September approximately 241 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,434 interments since the cemetery opened in 2015.
Courtney Thomas, Office of Mayor Dailey. No report.
Earnest Reed, Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 34. No report.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Essay contest for those in grades 7-12 has begun and the deadline is December 1, 2025. There will be a dice run on November 8. He is selling chances for an FRA Branch 34 raffle of a custom hand-crafted garden bench that are $5 a chance or $20 for 5 chances to win. Flyers were provided. The drawing will be on November 15, 2025.
Beverly Shirley, Community Representative, Mission BBQ. Gearing up for Veterans Day.
Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776. No report.
Derrick Sykes, Big Bend Hospice. Actively recruiting veterans to sit with veterans.
Gary Futrell, American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post l3, Public Affairs Officer. Please check your VSO’s name, spelling, etc. for the comprehensive directory of veteran service organizations (VSOs) being put together by AL Post 13.
David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Forces Association. There will be a ceremony in October he doesn’t know when yet. It will be in Jefferson County and will dedicate a new headstone for Dave Jones a WWI veteran who died in 1923.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. All combat veterans are welcome to join. The Post is donating $200 to the TVLC.
Dennis Hall, Commander American Legion Sauls-Bridges 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. He is unsure if there will be a luncheon on October 14 at this time. 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. Everyone is welcome.
Billy Holder, Chairman, Army Strong of Tallahassee Committee. He received final approval for the Army monument at the Tallahassee National Cemetery and the Army has approved the use of the seal. They are at only 1/3 of the needed funding for the Battlefield Cross monument. Pictures were passed around near the end of the meeting.
Donna Washington, Tallahassee VA Clinic. No report.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Sonya Pace, DAR, San Luis Mission Chapter. No report
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department (previously with Mission BBQ). No report.
Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. Dream Flights will take place this year on October 23, 2025. She will not be in town but her son (William) is well trained on the event and will be in charge. Breakfast is at 8:30 with colors at 9:00. They can take 8 veterans and 6 have been approved and are ready to go! Two spaces remain. Hurry and fill them.
Shawn Schwartz, Gold Star Mother. She agreed to help and found an ROTC intern to help with social media stuff for the Southwest Georgia Coalition. Look for and find interns, whether they are in high school or college. Besides, it looks good on a resume.
Tina Caldwell, Right at Home. Veteran preferred provider. Two hours to 24 hour services.
Sharon Weeden, Owner, Right at Home. VA Preferred Provider for in home care.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. Women Veterans Unite will have a retreat October 17-19, 2025 at At Ease Campground on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Stay one night or two; everyone leaves on the morning of the 19th. You must be a woman veteran and pay $30 to attend. Questions? Call 850-545-5374 and leave a message; Paula will get back to you.
Ritaann Schultz, Veteran. She is the new Commanders Coalition National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. Please contact her.
Washington Sanchez, Tallahassee Stand Down. No report.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Forces Association. The dedication ceremony was a success and thanks go to all who helped or attended, especially David Wilson. 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.
Grant Kimball, DAV; Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home; Chair, N. Florida S. Georgia Veteran Coalition; Veteran. On October 30 from 5-7 pm there will be a Trunk or Treat at Culley’s Timberlane location; come one and all. Thank you to Mission BBQ and the N. Florida/S. Georgia Coalition.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776. AmVets will be holding its Second Annual Turkey Shoot at the Tallahassee Rifle and Pistol Club on November 15, 2025. At 8:30 am registration begin; shooting starts at 9:00 am. The cost is $20 for registration. AmVets 1776 will meet on the first Thursday of the month (tomorrow) at the Elks Lodge on Magnolia at 6:30 pm.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow (every Thursday) from 3-5 pm. Walk ins are welcome. At the Leon County Courthouse next Monday the Veterans Treatment Court will meet at 3 pm please come to watch and help. Next month will be graduation. He is back and glad to be back. Farm Share was shut down this week. Hope it is temporary.
Susan (Susie) Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. The TVLC has been in existence for 8 going on 9 years. The TVLC Collaborative meets here at the American Legion Post l3 from 3-5 every Thursday. The Poker Run for Jeeps and Harleys is Saturday, October 18. The beginning and ending location has changed to Tallahassee Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat on West Tennessee. Registration is from 9-10 am or at CivicChorale.org Flyers were available. Proceeds will be shared by the Tallahassee Civic Chorale and TVLC.
Steve Shaffer, American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13 Historian. Applied for a grant. Hoping it is received.
Mike Simmons, 1st Vice Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville. No report.
Charles LeCroy, Past Commander of American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13. Thank you. Get involved and stay involved. Everything has not been invented yet.
Major Matt Weber, USMC, Marine Recruiting Station NF/SG. You must find recruits; they don’t come to you. For information contact Sergent Cody Purcell at Cody.Purcell@marines.usmc.mil
Sgt. Major Hilton Wise, USMC. No report.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. Former. He is almost done with everything. No report.
Mike Michael, USMC, NROTC Unit FAMU. Ben’s replacement. The 250th Navy and Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held on November 7, 2025, with cocktails at 1700, the ceremony begins at 1800, and will be held at the Champions Club at Doak Campbell Stadium at FSU. November 15 the Military Appreciation football game of FSU v Virginia Tech at FSU.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Call her. They help everybody.
Casey Taylor, US Naval Sea Cadet Corps. They helped with the POW/MIA Ceremony.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. No report.
Valencia Scott, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. They are always available. Please contact them.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 13. The Sons of the Legion will meet at the American Legion Post 13 at 6:30 pm on October 30. 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.
Shawn Cloud, CDR, ROTC Unit. No report.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Elks Lodge at 6:00 pm. The next meeting will be on October 30. A monthly fundraiser on the first Saturday of the month (this Saturday) is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts are sold. Stop by and buy donuts. Toys For Tots begins today – October 1. Let him know if you want a Toys For Tots Collection Box or want to hold an event.
John Folsom, American Legion Sauls-Bridges 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 there; it’s a big success; share the information. The POW/MIA Ceremony went well. Likewise, the POW/MIA ceremony at FLDHSMV was well attended. Tom Napier asked him to announce that there will be a Car Show on October 18 at the Moose Lodge on Capital Circle NW from 9 am till 12 noon for any type of car, truck, modified, classic, and motorcycle. All proceeds go to Honor Flight. On December 6 there will be an Honor Flight Reunion for all Honor Flight veterans and guardians. There will be a flag retirement ceremony on November 22 from 1-3 pm at the Antique Automobile Museum on Mahan. Everyone is welcome, especially children and young adults. If you have a small ad that you would like to appear on page 10 for free contact him.
Ed Hood, National Commander, Commanders Coalition. Please take the razors on the tables; the razors must go to veterans. He thanked everyone who voted and donors; he is now the National Commander of the Coalition. Dan Hendrickson from TVLC was thanked for his feedback on the Coalition Constitution and Bylaws. Ed needs input on the name of the Auxiliary and the bank where the checking account should be located. The Coalition membership website should be launched on January 1. There is a t-shirt fundraiser and there has been change of leadership of the SW Georgia Veteran & Family Alliance. The state of Florida has approved the Coalition’s nonprofit status. The Coalition is in need of donations! He is leaving for Texas where he has accepted a position with Homeland Security on October 20.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. Applications are currently being reviewed for the position of director of the TNC. Not sure how the government shutdown will affect the hiring process. The next Quarterly Support Committee meeting will be held in the Administration Building conference room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 5pm. All are welcome to attend whether a member or not. Not sure how the government shutdown will affect the meeting. Attendees and members will be kept informed. She thanked David Wilson and Joe West for their successes with the POW/MIA monument dedication and the POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony.
Ed Hood 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, November 5, 2025, at 10 am at 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32303, American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13.