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COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
OCTOBER 2, 2024, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Ed Hood, John Folsom, Ben Bradwell, Tom Napier, Courtney Thomas, Nell Hewitt, Dan Hendrickson, Frank Roycraft, Paul Rogerson, Gail Ernst, Fred Ingley, Alex (Butch) Topicz, Earnest (Ernie) Reed, Johnnie Roberts, Marianne Scholer, Paula Hubert, M.H. Allen, Ben Ringvelski, Kaitlyn Grimes, Alyssa Hughes, Liz Crawford, Chuck Howell, Eric Smith, Dennis Hall, Ed Gifford, Tom McCluskey, Marc Dickieson, Roxann Dressel, Mary LaBatt, Danielle Woods, Tony Minichello, Eugenia Simmons, Gordon Lightfoot, Brooklyn Enders, Donna Washington, Keisha Washington, Amanda Daughtry, Berline Belizaire, Patti Fabian, Martin Walker, Derrich Sykes, Sean Wyman, Brandon Webb, Grant Kimball, Sharon Weeden, Tina Spears, and Marianne Trussell.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13 & Commander Coalition Communications Coordinator 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. Ed welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, to silence their phones, reminded everyone that there are to be no politics, and invited Ben Bradwell to begin. See comments below.
Ben Bradwell, Director, Leon County Office of Veteran Services. Veteran Services Officers will be out of the office from October 7-14, 2024, for training. The American Legion Post 13 and Leon County will meet today at 2:00 pm to plan for the annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast. To volunteer call Kay Pelt-Walker at 850-606-1970.
Derrich Sykes, Veterans Liaison, Big Bend Hospice. No report.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. Toys for Tots started October 1; online registration thru Angel Tree. In person registration this week only. Marine Corps League raffle tickets are still available at 2 for $5.00.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard. No report.
Earnest Reed, Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 34. No report.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, FRA Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Raffle tickets are still available. Contact him for more information.
Johnnie Roberts. No report.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) provided military honors at 15 interments in September which includes Final Salute on September 25. The BBHG had approximately 260 volunteer hours for the month. On September 20 the BBHG provided services at the POW/MIA Ceremony at the TNC. Since 2016 the BBHG performed 1,29 interments.
Dennis Hall, Army National Guard, Big Bend Honor Guard. There is a luncheon at 1225 Easterwood Drive every second Tuesday at 11:30; the next luncheon will be October 8. Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. All are welcome. A small donation is requested, but even if you can’t donate you can still join in the luncheon.
Marianne Scholer, member, Women Veterans Unite. Women Veterans Unite meet the third Thursday of every month (but not this month) at Post l3 at 6 pm. It is a dinner meeting.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. No report.
Nell Hewitt, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. No report.
Patti Fabian, At Ease Campground in Bainbridge, Georgia. Adjutant of new American Legion Post 340. Tomorrow night, October 3, there will be a meet and greet. This Saturday, October 5 there will be the monthly breakfast which is a fundraiser as is the October 26 Fall Festival, 4-9 pm (flyers were available). On Veterans Day Weekend (flyers available) there will be a sunset flag retirement ceremony on November 8 at 5:30 to start things off and on Saturday November 9 there will be a fishing tournament, chili cook off, 5k run, and much more. See flyer!
Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville. Made a pitch for Wreaths Across America - they are a sponsor. Flyers were available.
M.H. Allen, K9s for Warriors. There will be a fundraising event next Wednesday, October 9 from 5-7:30 pm at the Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., Tallahassee. All proceeds from this event will be donated to K9s for Warriors to help save more veterans and first responders and to provide to them former rescue dogs by turning them into well trained service dogs. Everyone is invited. It is free; no tickets are needed. Donations are accepted. There will be free food.
Brandon Webb, Apalachee Center. TEAM -Tallahassee Emergency Assessment Mobile (Unit) to help with housing, etc. He was invited to attend by Grant Kimball. He is here with TPD Officer Sean Wyman who is also on the TEAM team.
Sean Wyman, TPD Officer. He is also on the TEAM team.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home. Veteran. Resources on the tables. There may be a price increase at the end of the year. Suggest all veterans get their affairs in place. The National Cemetery does not cover everything and veterans still need a funeral home.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Donna Washington, Volunteer Coordinator, VA Clinic, Tallahassee. New hours for the VA Clinic are 7:30 am – 4:30 pm. You can get your flu shot at your specialty appointment or you can get your flu shot at the Flu Clinic between 1 and 3 pm at the walk-in clinic. Veterans can get a COVID booster by appointment.
Brooklyn Enders, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. On October 31 there will be Prep for Vets to help get them ready to find a job. During the first week in November, they will host Paychecks for Vets to help veterans find a job.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaboration. Tomorrow, October 3 and every Thursday a legal clinic will be held at the America Legion Post 13 from 3-5. Set up begins at 2 pm. Please be there to help. Needless to say, they did not meet last week. The Veterans Treatment Court graduation was a great success. There are volunteers who will attend the mentor training – it's about 1 hour. Mentors are still needed. Every week after the clinic he sends out a report and pictures (no personal information) to celebrate another success. He will share with the Coalition.
Tom Napier, Vice Chairman, Honor Flight Tallahassee. Honor Flight attendees and guardians will be honored with a dinner at the Honor Flight Reunion at the National Guard Armory on Saturday, December 7. Saturday, April 26, 2025, will be the next Honor Flight (Number 11). So far there are 55 veterans signed up. Honor Flight will be in the Veterans Day Parade. There will be a car show at the Moose Lodge on Capital Circle NW on Saturday, October 19 from 9 am to 1pm. All cars are welcome. Thank you to Mission BBQ for all of your help and support!
Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. The office is here to help.
Martin Walker, Federal Bureau of Prisons. They have started a Battle Buddy Program and he is the program manager. On November 6 there will be a veterans program from 1-3 pm.
Keisha Washington, Veteran Resource Specialist, 211 Big Bend. No report.
Eugenia Simmons, Director, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Thank you everyone. The POW/MIA Ceremony was held on September 20. Thank you to all who attended and/or helped and/or participated. On September 25 a Final Salute was held service at which military honors are presented for those previously interred but without family or friends; thank you again. Wreaths Across America is closing soon; please order wreaths soon. On October 12 from 9-11 there will be a work day at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). Volunteers are always welcome. Construction at the TNC is a little behind schedule. If your organization wants to learn more about your military burial benefits or the TNC just stop by or call.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Mission BBQ. Thank you to all who attended the 105th Birthday celebration. Mission BBQ is serving free sandwiches to all veterans after the Veterans Day parade; last year 105 sandwiches were served the goal is 120 this year. Mission BBQ will be at the K9s for Warriors event. She is leaving mission BBQ (collective groan); her last day is October 9. She is going to TPD. She will still be “with” Mission BBQ. Alyssa Hughes is the new point of contact.
Alyssa Hughes, Mission BBQ. New point of contact at Mission BBQ. Pleased to meet all of you.
Danielle Woods, Coordinator, Leon County Government. Volunteer Fire Trucks will be at Tom Brown Park on October 12 from 10-1. There will be a Homeownership Seminar on Paul Russell Road on October 19 from 10-12:15 for first time home buyers.
Sharon Weeden, President/Owner, Right at Home. There is no co-pay. Right at Home is a National Franchise. Flyers were provided regarding an owners conference. Sponsored a food drive. She also talked about tiny homes where homeless veterans were given a tiny home, bed, clothes, etc. and when they transitioned from the tiny home they could take it all with them.
Tina Spears, Quality Care Manager, Right at Home. No report.
Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. She is very involved in efforts that support veteran issues. Cards were distributed regarding haircuts. Dream Flights will be in Tallahassee either October 9 or 12. Jospeh Williams and four others are ready to go. There is one slot left. It is free.
Gail Ernst, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13, Air & Space Forces Association, MOAA. The September meeting of MOAA was a huge success. There will be a Christmas meeting/party on December 6 at the Tallahassee Elks Lodge. The short business meeting will begin at 5.
Fred Ingley, MOAA. No report.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Forces Association. The next meeting is October 8 at 6 pm at Chow Time on Capital Circle NE.
Courtney Thomas, Office of Mayor John Dailey, Tallahassee. The Mayor could not make it and sends his apologies. There will be a dedication of the First Florida Replica in Cascades Park will be on October 4 at 10 am.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Gave kudos to TPD Citizens Police Academy.
Paul Rogerson, AmVets. No report.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776. AmVets will be holding a “Turkey Shoot” on November 16 with registration beginning a 9 am. Details were provided in flyers for attendees including collaboration with Tallahassee Rifle and Pistol Club. Mission BBQ will be there with a food truck. The foundation for the VFW monument has been installed the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC); the monument will be erected in the next month or so. Reminded everyone that the Marine Corps League will be selling Dunking Donuts at the Ace Hardware on Kerry Forest.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. No report.
Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. No report.
Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. No report.
Ed Gifford, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Post 49 Fish Fry will be held on October 12. There will be a Pet Shop Clinic on October 26 at noon and a firearms safety class on October 19 from 11-3. Raffle tickets are still available for the AR and the pistol; the drawing will be November 11 and the winner does not have to be present. Thank you to everyone.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. Two members of the American Legion have died recently: Glen Ruskey and Michale Gavin. Thank you to Kaitlyn and Mission BBQ. He and two others are going to visit Lt. Commander Robert Caldwell, a Navy veteran who is 103.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13 & Commanders Coalition. Commanders Coalition emails are reaching over 2000 people a month. Also, the American Legion is collecting water and cleaning supplies for hurricane victims. Leave and take the flyers, things on the tables. Remember to sign in.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. She thanked Eugenia Simmons for reminding everyone of the workday on Saturday, October 12. The next meeting of the Support Committee will be held on Tuesday, October 15 at 5 pm at the Administration Building of the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). The meeting should last no more than one hour and there will be elections of the Vice Chair and the Treasurer. The officers are elected at the meeting, but their terms begin at the January meeting. Everyone is welcome whether a member or not. There are no dues to become a member. There is a workday scheduled for Saturday, October l2 from 9-11 am. Details will be provided. Show up by 9 am at the front of the Administration Building of the TNC. No gas or electric tools are permitted. Bring just yourself, gloves, loppers, clippers, etc. Donuts and water will be provided. Everyone is welcome.
The meeting ended with Ed Hood asking Eric Smith, the Post 13 Chaplain to give a closing prayer.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
