Meeting Minutes 📄
April 2025 Meeting
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – April 3, 2025, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Ed Hood, John Folsom, Rodney Nash, Courtney Thomas, Cody Evans, Major Morale, David Wilson, Craig Williams, Amanda Daughtry, Gail Ernst, Fred Ingley, Alex (Butch) Topicz, Tina Spears, Grant Kimball, Paul Rogerson, Henry Lowery, Andy Janacek, Frank Roycraft, Mary LaBatt, Craig Benner, Susie Caplowe, Dan Hendrickson, Kaitlyn Grimes, Tom McCluskey, Nell Hewitt, Omar Guzman-Toro, Eric Smith, Ed Gifford, Marc Dickieson, Wayne Hooks, Ben Ringvelski (did not attend but submitted a report), and Marianne Trussell.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13, Commanders 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 Eric Smith 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 guest Rodney Nash to begin. See comments below.
Rodney Nash, guest. No report.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at Chow Time at 1800 hours. A monthly fundraiser is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts will be sold. Please buy your donuts. Contact him for more information.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Liz Crawford at Sport Clips asked him to remind everyone of the VFW race at Darlington. Hero Flight has been canceled. Mission BBQ provided food for their First Responder Ceremony at the Moose Lodge. VFW 3308 has created a committee to develop and utilize a 30 second “Elevator Speech”. If your group does not have an “Elevator Speech” about what the group does then you need to develop one!
Tina Spears, Quality Care Manager, Right at Home. No report.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, FRA Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Vet Inc. needs help with the Veterans Day parade they meet every second Monday at the Hootch. Please attend and help. April 15 is just around the corner. Use your tax refund to buy wreaths from Wreaths Across America.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard. Reporting for Chuck Howell. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed military honors at 16 interments in March which included Final Salute which is done quarterly. This quarter there were 7 veterans honored. The BBHG also reported approximately 291 volunteer hours to the Veterans Administration. Since the cemetery opened the BBHG has performed 1,343 interments.
Courtney Thomas, Mayor Dailey’s Office. No report.
Paul Rogerson, AmVets. He is reporting on the AmVets Golf Tournament. It will be held on April 28 at Golden Eagle. Check in for players is from 8-9 am. They have been very successful so far. Volunteers are always needed and John Folsom said he would find out about volunteers at tonight’s meeting.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home. There will be two seminars on what the VA covers on April 23 and 24 at 6 pm at Glory Days restaurant. Depending on the response, there may be a third seminar on April 25.
Nell Hewitt, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. The Auxiliary and others will be filling Easter baskets for foster children in the Big Bend area on April 15 at 10 am at American Legion Post 13. See you there or you can donate money or other items to the effort.
Cody Evans, Oxford Housing. He is not a veteran. He is here to gather resources to assist Oxford House in its mission to help veterans secure housing.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Fred Ingley, MOAA, Tallahassee Chapter. No report.
Gail Ernst, Air & Space Forces Association, MOAA. The Military Officers Association (MOAA) Tallahassee Chapter is excited to announce that FSU Football Head Coach, Mike Norvell, will be speaking at our upcoming April 21st dinner. The opportunity is open to all veterans, family, and friends. Reservation cost includes dinner and hearing the Coach speak. Cost: $30. Reservations are required:
https://mike-norvell-dinner.cheddarup.com
The deadline for reservations is April 12. The dinner/Mike Norvell speaking event will be held at the Elks Lodge on Magnolia Drive from 5-8pm, on Monday, 4/21. Please contact Cheryl Walters, MOAA Tallahassee Chapter President, at moaatlhprez@gmail.com or 850-212-7009, with any questions.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department (formerly with Mission BBQ). Hello friends. No report.
Susie Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. The Collaborative keeps getting phone calls from all over the country. They keep trying to help veterans. Daughters of the American Revolution donated a trailer but they still need a truck.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Today, April 3, and every Thursday a legal clinic will be held at American Legion Post 13 from 3-5pm. Set up begins at 2pm. Please be there to help. They handle a variety of issues from all over the country. The Veterans Treatment Court has an opportunity to be strengthened but it needs an amendment. There was a big crowd at the FDVA veterans’ reception the other night. There are at least 50 bills to increase veteran benefits. See him or Stuart Scott. The Veterans Court still needs help.
Major Morale, publisher, free newspaper. Please get your veteran oriented news to him 2-3 months before the event to be included for publishing! Memorial Day there is a lot going on. Email him at: Publisher@youcanwin.com. His email is always in the top right corner of every issue of the newspaper.
Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. He signed up for the golf tournament at Golden Eagle. No report.
Ed Gifford, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Just a reminder that Post 49 will have its free Memorial Day picnic on May 26, doors open at 11:30 the guest speaker will be Byron Arsenau.
Andy Janacek, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. No report.
Omar Guzman-Toro, Paralegal, Veterans’ Legal Collaborative, Legal Services of North Florida. No report.
Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776. No report.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. June 13 is the FLHSMV Annual Veterans Recognition Day at 12 noon. Tables can be set up by VSOs at 11 am.
David Wilson, AmVets, Vet Events Tally, Air & Space Forces Association. He handed out flyers about the Visit to Roselawn Cemetery 843 Piedmont Drive, Tallahassee, FL. On Sunday, April 27 at 4 pm eight veterans who died serving America will be honored. Meet at West Roselawn Cemetery entrance (closest to Meridian). Usually lasts one hour; please bring children.
Craig Williams, Director of Military and Veteran Affairs, Congressman Dunn’s Office. Thanks to all of you for what you do. Thank you for your support on Academy Days. VA cuts – Congressman Dunn wants everyone to know that he has met and meets with D.C. folks and there are no cuts to providers; veterans still receive the care they need; there is a rough patch now.
Amanda Daughtry, Case Worker, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Thank you for all you do to help veterans. No report.
Dan Paasch, Ashley Moody’s Office. Busy getting offices established across the state. Service Academy nominations have begun; tell young people who are interested to call or see him.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. FSU Baseball Veterans Recognition occurs during every Saturday home game this season. The FAMU Army ROTC spring commissioning ceremony will occur at 9 am, Friday, May 2 at the FAMU Pharmacy College auditorium, 1415 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Five Cadets will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Florida National Guard. FAMU Navy ROTC spring commissioning will occur at 10:30 am, Friday, May 2 at the FAMU Pharmacy College auditorium, 1415 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Five Midshipmen will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps and Ensigns in the U.S. Navy. On Saturday April 5 at 4 pm, is the FSU Military Appreciation Baseball game against Wake Forest, general admission seats from FSU athletics, as well as resale reserved seats are still available from third party vendors (stub Hub, Seat Geek, etc).
Wayne Hooks, Tallahassee Composite of the Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol. He has estimated that 3,500 wreaths will be need for the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC) in 2025. Civil Air Patrol is the leader of the Wreaths Across America (WAA) effort each year. He explained that WAA no longer offers 3 for 2 but has instituted a $5 forward to the cemetery selected for the purchase of additional wreaths; it is no longer 3 for 2 but 4 for 3. He indicated he does not like the change and no attendee really understood the new policy.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. Memorial Day 2025 at the Tallahassee National Cemetery will be on Saturday, May 24 at 1 pm. The VFW will honor veterans at their cemetery on Memorial Day. Honor Flight has eight vacant seats for veterans.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13, Communications Coordinator Commanders Coalition. Here is the statement he is required to read about the American Legion (AL) and the events that are held at AL Post 13. “We are a political organization through resolutions passed by our committees. However we are Not a Partisan organization as we do not support one party over another nor any candidate over another as an organization.” Tom McCluskey donated a beautiful picture to the AL. The AL is donating it to the silent auction at the AmVets Golf Tournament. To our Congressional representatives, please do not make any cuts to POW/MIA programs.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. Marianne thanked everyone for their participation in and attendance at Final Salute and the Vietnam War Commemoration Ceremony 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 at the TNC. The next meeting of the Support Committee will be Tuesday, April 15 at 5 pm at the TNC conference room. The meeting usually lasts 1 hour and everyone is welcome. Confirming that the Memorial Day Ceremony at the TNC will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 1 pm.
The meeting ended with a prayer by Eric Smith and Ed Hood leading a salute to the Flag.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
