National Memorial Day Events are posted on www.commanderscoalition.org

On Monday, May 25, the Post Annual Memorial Day Service will be at Oakland Cemetery in Midtown. The address is 838 North Bronough Street. Enter the cemetery from the southeast entrance on Brevard Street. We are asking for everyone to arrive at 10:45 a. m. and the start time is 11:00 a. m. The service should conclude at noon. THERE IS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF RAIN, 70%. I am not sure when the rain is predicted to arrive. IF IT DOES RAIN, WE HOLD THE SERVICE AT THE POST AT 11:00 a. m. If you signed up to help move equipment Monday morning to the cemetery, please be at the Post by 7:25 a. m.

Greetings, Team

Col Billy Francis (USAF Ret.) (longtime Director of FSU’s Student Veterans’ Center) was the keynote speaker for Leon Veterans Court Graduation Monday. Congratulations to 3 more Vets including one of TVLC Volunteers, David Martinez, plus Shaulaunna Washington and Ted Altavilla, for their success completing the Veterans Treatment Court program. Turnout was great this time, including 3 news cameras! And FDVA Legislative Director Roy Clark also presented each graduate with an FDVA/FVF Commemoration Medallion. Your next chance to observe a session of the Court will be Monday, June 8 (3 pm Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E). Maybe you will consider becoming an invaluable Veteran Mentor for one of the other Vets working their way through the program and recovery. Several Veterans are awaiting a Mentor, both men and women.

Can you imagine trying to untangle a mistake by the D of D 44 years ago? That was but one legal issue brought to the walk-in clinic yesterday (in addition to the usual housing, employment, VA benefits and driver’s license problems. This week’s walk-in legal clinic involved our Team of 14 Volunteers (including 6 attys again) working with 13 Veterans and family members (Thursday, 5/21/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. We could use some more help!

On Wednesday, Veteran Sam Adams drove the truck and trailer load to Veterans at HomeFront and other sites around the county, along with others serving on the Food Delivery team (Khalid Shafi, David Martinez, Charles Robinson, Eddie McMillian, Leonard Bell).

Sincere thanks to the local Marine Corps League for a surprise donation yesterday from the Military Order of the Devil Dogs (google them if you need) after the Legal Clinic was ending: see photo of Commandant Marc Dickieson presenting a check to our Food delivery team leaders, Margaret Deciano (who donates her truck each week, in addition to heading our intake table at the clinic every week), Sam Adams and Khalid Shafi. TVLC volunteers appreciate everyone’s ongoing support.

It’s time for an advocacy email from you! These next couple of weeks the Governor will be receiving, reviewing and deciding whether to approve many of the bills that were passed in this year’s legislative session that “ended” last month. His office needs to hear your emphatic support for General Patt Maney’s House Bill 199 which will strengthen Veterans’ Treatment Courts all over the state by increasing the number of Veterans entering the Criminal Court program to rebuild their lives and record, recover from addiction or other behavioral/ trauma personal problems and succeed in moving forward for their families and their future. Even a brief phone message to his office will accomplish the same purpose of showing our support (850/717-9337). The link to the Executive Office of the Governor is: https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

What else?

Thank you,

Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091, Tallahassee, Fl 32302, 850/ 570-1967

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3308 will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the VFW Cemetery on the corner of Fox Road and Old Blair Road (take Rivers Road off Crawfordville Road to Fox Road).

A New Tradition Begins
This July 4th, America250 is working to transform Independence Day into the largest single day of charitable giving in American history, and to establish July 4 as a lasting national tradition of generosity.

The movement – which they’re calling Giving 4th – begins this 4th of July.

On July 4th, I will send out an email containing links to ALL of the Veteran nonprofits in Outpost 1. If you are a Veteran nonprofit, send us the link you want people to visit to make their donation. Together, we can change the lives of Veterans in our communities.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

As you all may remember, a member of Outpost 1 suggested we should posthumously nominate Major John Haynes Sr. for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I have completed his nomination paperwork and will be sending it to the family for approval. Upon family acceptance, it will go before the coalition and I will call for organizational endorsements. The nomination letter will be digitally signed by the people/organizations who support this nomination. More details to follow

Greetings, Team

Congratulate a Marine, a Soldier and a Guardsman in person for their success: Please plan to come to Court on Monday, 3 pm, May 18th for the next Graduation for Veterans completing the Veterans Treatment Court program!! (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E). Maybe you will consider becoming an invaluable Veteran Mentor for one of the other Vets working their way through the program and recovery. Several Veterans are awaiting a Mentor, both men and women.

This week’s walk-in legal clinic involved our Team of 13 Volunteers (including 6 attys) working with 18 Veterans and family members (Thursday, 5/14/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. We could use some more help!

On Wednesday, the Food Delivery team (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams) drove the truck and trailer load to various sites around the county.

🚨ALARM FOR AREA VETERANS AND SUPPORT AGENCIES: 🚨

Vet Village, owned by Volunteers of America, Inc, is planning to close at the end of September, for lack of funding! Everyone start brainstorming to see which agencies, govt entities, etc. can maybe lease and continue operating the facility for 54 Veteran beds for “transitioning off the Streets!” Time to be creative and deliberate!

REDUX: It’s time for an advocacy email from you! These next couple of weeks the Governor will be receiving, reviewing and deciding whether to approve many of the bills that were passed in this year’s legislative session that “ended” last month. His office needs to hear your emphatic support for General Patt Maney’s House Bill 199 which will strengthen Veterans’ Treatment Courts all over the state by increasing the number of Veterans entering the Criminal Court program to rebuild their lives and record, recover from addiction or other behavioral/ trauma personal problems and succeed in moving forward for their families and their future. Even a brief phone message to his office will accomplish the same purpose of showing our support (850/717-9337). The link to the Executive Office of the Governor is: https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

What else?

Thank you,

Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091,

Tallahassee, Fl 32302,

850/ 570-1967

Special thanks to Fleet Reserve Association Branch 34 for leading the May Monthly Meeting. We have 6 months remaining in 2026 and need other VSO’s to step up to lead the coming monthly meetings. Remember, Commanders Coalition only leads a meeting when another VSO is unable to. We are here to help YOU grow your organization.

We still need someone to step up and serve as the Outpost 1 Commander. Once Outpost 3 gets started, Outpost 1 news will be reduced to monthly minutes until we find someone willing to serve.

That being said, our national newsletter is live and is focused solely on national news and events including work national is doing. I recently posted an article explaining Commanders Coalition Outposts which contains some history about the Coalition. Click on the article below to read it.

In your Service,
Edward W. Hood
National Commander
Interim Outpost 1 Commander

Commanders Coalition

What is a Commanders Coalition Outpost? 🇺🇸

For over 100 years, Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) have worked tirelessly advocating for Veteran rights and benefits. After nearly a century of dedicated service, we are now watching many Veteran posts close their doors. Meanwhile, the leaders of those posts are left without an organization to call their own and their valuable experience is not pa…

Read more

14 days ago · Commanders Coalition

Saturday, May 16, is Armed Forces Day in the United States. For you FSU Baseball fans, it is also the date for the University of Miami vs FSU baseball game. Florida State Baseball will honor veterans at the 2:00 pm game. Commemorative t shirts will be available on a first come, first served basis. General Admission tickets are still available for $10.00 a ticket. The number for the FSU Ticket Office is 850-644-1830. If you are interested, please call them asap.

Best regards,

Dennis Hall, Commander Post 13

“For God and Country”

https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/usa250/2026/may/sojourn-250-lets-be-a-part-of-history

Greetings, Team

Please plan to come to Court on Monday, 3 pm, May 18th for the next Graduation for Veterans completing the Veterans Treatment Court program!! (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E). Maybe you will consider becoming an invaluable Veteran Mentor for one of the other Vets working their way through the program and recovery. Several Veterans are awaiting a Mentor, both men and women.

And this Tuesday, May 12, is the SECOND TUESDAY luncheon at the National Guard Armory, 11:30 am. All invited for a great ham or turkey dinner (small donation appreciated). 1225 Easterwood Drive.

Despite the storm and tornado warning, today’s walk-in legal clinic involved our Team of 14 Volunteers again (including 7 attys) working with 14 Veterans and family members (Thursday, 5/7/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13.

On Wednesday, the Food Delivery team (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams, and Johnathan Delille) drove the truck and trailer load to various sites around the county. And at the same time yesterday, the Commander’s Coalition welcomed new VSO’s and Veterans Services to our monthly meeting at the Legion Hall, featuring Kiwanis’ Firecracker 5K and 1 mile Sparkler Run (for July 4) and Clover Medical Solutions new treatments available thru VA. 2 Elected officials also attended and a third was represented by District Staff.

REDUX: It’s time for an advocacy email from you! These next couple of weeks the Governor will be receiving, reviewing and deciding whether to approve many of the bills that were passed in this year’s legislative session that “ended” last month. His office needs to hear your emphatic support for General Patt Maney’s House Bill 199 which will strengthen Veterans’ Treatment Courts all over the state by increasing the number of Veterans entering the Criminal Court program to rebuild their lives and record, recover from addiction or other behavioral/ trauma personal problems and succeed in moving forward for their families and their future. Even a brief phone message to his office will accomplish the same purpose of showing our support (850/717-9337). The link to the Executive Office of the Governor is: https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

What else?

Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091, Tallahassee, Fl 32302, 850/ 570-1967

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/05/07/lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-lower-drug-costs-for-service-members-veterans/

Attendees: Alex “Butch” Topicz, Dennis Baker, John Folsom, David Johnson, Sam Kerce, Olivia Thomas, Tristan Thomas, Frank Roycraft, Ritaann Schultz, Chuck Howell, Hell Hewitt, Eric Smith, Marc Dickieson, Susie Caplowe, Dan Hendrickson, Tony Minichiello, Ed Gifford, Berline Belizaire, Charles LeCroy, Amanda Daugherty, David Wilson, Juan Gonzalez, Tom Carney, Col. Ronnie “Mike” Michael, Dan Stafford, Paula Hubert, Craig Benner, Dennis Hall, Roxann Dressel, Bill Ferris, Berline Belizaire, Rick Minor, Nic Zateslo, Mary LaBatt,Sonya Pace, Derrick Sykes, L J Stuckey, Althamese Smith, Akin Akinyemi, Michael Mann, Debra Mann, and Marianne Trussell.

Dennis Baker, Fleet Reserve Association Branch 34 led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meeting and led a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. Dennis welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, to keep it brief and to keep it veteran business only, no personal business, politics, or personal attacks. Dennis then asked Eric Smith to deliver an opening prayer. John Folsom handed the microphone to David Johson to begin.

David Johnson, veteran, Kiwanis. Kiwanis supports families, children, andveterans. Call them for help.

Sam Kerce, Kiwanis. Thanked David Johnson. Bob Asztalos is honorary Race Director (Pia Woodley is involved) of the Firecracker 5k & 1 mile Sparkler Run, July 4, 2026, starting at 7:30 am at Cascades Park in Tallahassee. Register at: www.TallyFirecracker5k.com Handouts were available.

Olivia Thomas, Clover Medical Solutions. Services to US veterans. VA approved vendor. They offer pain control, socks for neuropathy, and many otherbenefits.

Tristan Thomas, Clover Medical Solutions. No report.

Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. On Memorial Day the VFW will have a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. at its cemetery (one of only a few VFW Posts with its own cemetery). After the ceremony at the VFW Post there will behamburgers and hot dogs with the band 1105 playing from 3-6. On May 21 therewill be a Sip, Paint & Shop event; for $25 you can do your own art! See him for details.

Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. June 12 will be Veteran Appreciation Day at his agency. VSOs and veterans are welcome to set up a table. Booths (tables) open at 11:00 am. If you have questions please see him.

Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. TheMarine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Elks Lodge at 6:00 pm. A monthly fundraiser (depending on weather) on the first Saturday of the month is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts aresold. Stop by and please buy donuts.

Ed Gifford, Commander, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Memorial Day will be celebrated on May 25 starting at 11 am. There will be a raffle and the guest speaker will be David Wilson. After the ceremony there will be BBQ chicken. If it rains, the event will be held inside the Post.

Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Raffle tickets are $5. The prizes are Reugers.

Juan Gonzalez, Vice Commander, Commanders Coalition. The Commanders Coalition is now a 501c(19) not for profit organization. The Commanders Coalition changed from .com to .org

Tom Carney, Bud West, Air & Space Forces Association Chapter 419. The next meeting is in July. On behalf of Gordon Lightfoot, Amvets raised $8,000 from their annual golf tournament. The next meeting of Amvets will be held on Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 at the Elks Lodge.

Akim Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser. No report.

David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Force Association. There will be a dedication program at the Woodville School on May 19 at 9 a.m. The program will honor (7) men who went to the Woodville School and who died in war. Their plaque burned in a fire in 1980. A new plaque will be dedicated to their memory on May 19. Handouts were provided.

L. J. Stuckey, Adjutant, American Legion Post 502 in Bainbridge. Here to take advantage of good information. For more information, please call her at 505-651-6334.

Bill Ferris, CVMA 20-12. Veteran suicide is still a problem. Be there for a veteran. No report.

Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville;Commander, American Legion District 2. The District 2 (DCC) meeting is Saturday, May 26 in Sneads at Post 241. Memorial Day in Wakulla County will be held at 10 am. The 3^rd Thursday of each month (May 21) there will be a “Veteran’s Meetup” at the Main Meeting Room of the Wakulla County Public Library from11:00 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. Handouts were made available.

Derrick Sykes, Big Bend Hospice. No report. Veteran volunteers are needed to sit with veterans; they also have a veteran ceremony.

Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.

Paula Hubert, VP, Women Veterans Unite. No report. Happy Mother’s Day!

Sonja Pace, DAR. No report.

Robert “Bob” Asztalos, Fleet Reserve Association. No report. Thank you.

Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) in April performed 14 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). During the month of April approximately 264 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,546 interments thru the end of April 2026 since the TNC opened in 2015.

Nell Hewitt, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. The Auxiliary will give out Poppies at various locations in Tallahassee. Please stop by. Unit 13 proceeds stay local (75%) and 25% to the veterans who make them.

Dennis Hall, Commandant American Legion 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 (this coming Tuesday, May 12. Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the menu will consist of ham or turkey, salad, and Peach Betty. A donation is accepted. A new procedure has been established regarding procedure for attendees. You will not be required to sign in. Please be patient. Post 13 will hold its general meeting on May 14. May 15-16 is the Stand Down. Underwear (men’sand women’s) is needed. Post 13 is a collection point. On Memorial Day, May 25,there will be a ceremony at Tallahassee’s Oakland Cemetery at 11 a.m.

Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard; DAV, Chapter 5. No report.

Ritaann Schultz, National Chair, Traumatic Brain Injury, American Legion Post 340. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. Floridians are lucky as there is a brain injury center in Tampa which is 1 of only 5 in the nation. American Legion Post 340 and At Ease will hold a meet and greet from 6-30 with a free fish fry on Thursday, May 7.

Althamese Smith, Coordinator for Stand Down, Tallahassee Veterans Outreach. May 15 and 16, 2026, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm are the dates of the North Florida Homeless /At Risk Veteran Stand Down at the FAMULawson Center, 1800 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee. No children are allowed at the event!! Handouts were available. Go to: www.Tallahasseeveteranorganization.org for details, services offered, and information. Pre-registration is required, ID must be presented, and veteran status must be verified. Free transportation is provided for those without means to get to the Stand Down. Showers will be available. Men and women underwear is needed.

Susan (Susie) Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative, Clinic Volunteer Coordinator. Thank you to everyone. Every Wednesday the volunteers go to Quincy to come to Lake Ella to give food stuff away to veterans. The Legal Collaborative starts every Thursday at 3.

Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Veterans still need legal and other assistance. Mentors are badly needed. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow and every Thursday from 3-5 pm. Walk ins are welcome. Monday, May 18 will be the graduation of the Veteran’sTreatment Court in the courthouse. Thank you for all of your letters to the governor’s office; keep them coming.

Rick Minor, Represents District 3. However, anyone can call with issues. Veterans can contact him or Ben Bradwell.

Nic Zatelso, visitor. AI Policy.

Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report. Heather Stephens says thank you.

Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Call if you need help!

Colonel R.D. “Mike” Michael, Commanding Officer & Professor of Naval Science.
The ROTC Scholarship application for academic year 2027 has been open since April 2026 for Navy and Marine Corps. Please encourage rising high school seniors to apply. Four-year National Scholarship benefit, application checklist, and general requirements can be found at this link: Four-Year National Scholarship. Contact the local Navy or Marine Corps Recruiters for assistance with completing the application. The Marine Corps Ball will be held on Friday, November 13, with time TBD.

Dan Stafford, 3^rd Battalion USMC. The Marine Corps wants to establish a new

unit in Tallahassee.

Charles LeCroy, Past Commander Post 13. Thanks to all of you. Get involved.

Keep On Keepin’ On. Get involved and stay involved!

Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion. John Folsom gave his report.

Debra Mann, American Legion Post 13, President District 2. Theresa Briggs was elected President of District 2; she will assume her duties on June 14, 2026. Nell Hewitt was elected to represent the district at the national convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The District 2 moto is “small but mighty”. Debra dispersedhandouts on behalf of DAV.

Dennis Baker, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34. No report.

John Folsom, American Lesion Post 13. Thanks to all of you. The America Legion Memorial Day Ceremony is Monday at 11 am at Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee. The Sons of the Legion has 3 units in District 2. The Sons arestarting to branch out.

Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. The Fleet Reserve Association is fundraising to build a Navy memorial at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. A raffle is being held (drawing on July 18) with chances for $5 apiece or $20 for 5 chances. The prize is a Custom Crafted Corn Hole Game. Flyers were made available.

Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee NationalCemetery, Inc. The next Quarterly Support Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 3 pm at the Administration Building Conference Room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. The next quarterly Final Salute will be on June 24, 2026 at 3 pm. Please attend!! Melissa could not be here due to a conflictand sends her regrets. She asked me to share with you the following dates and times regarding Memorial Day at the Tallahassee National Cemetery: the Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m. with flag placement on Thursday, May 21 at 3 p.m.* and flag removal on Tuesday, May 26 at 3 pm*. *means Weather dependent. A Memorial Day flyer created by the TNC was given to Juan Gonzalez for forwarding to Ed Hood.

Dennis Baker led a salute to the American Flag and asked Chaplain Eric Smith to provide the closing prayer.

The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 3,2026, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.

FLYERS WILL BE IN THE WEEKLY REPORT ON SUNDAY

Wednesday, 10AM,
229 Lake Ella Dr.
Tallahassee FL 32303 as
Branch 34 of the Fleet Reserve Association will be leading the meeting

USS Liberty Veterans Association POLL results

Coalition voted 83% in favor of hosting the USS Liberty Vets this June. I will be discussing with the board how we can make this event happen. STAY TUNED

Post 13 is participating in the Homeless/At-Risk Veterans’ Stand Down at the Lawson Center on the campus of FAMU. The dates are Friday and Saturday May 15 and 16 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. The greatest need for these veterans is underwear!! You can help meet this need by purchasing men’s boxer and/or briefs and bring them to the Post NLT Wednesday May 13. If you come and no-one is in the office, a box will be in the foyer for you to place your items. Please, only new underwear in the original packaging will be donated. All sizes are needed. The need is great and you can help. Thank you in advance for your donations.

Please invite your family and friends to the Post’s annual Memorial Day Service at Oakland Cemetery on Monday, May 25, at 11:00 am. Please arrive by 10:45 am. This is a solemn and emotional service and well attended. Our keynote speaker is our Post Adjutant Shirley Combass. Adjutant Combass is a veteran/retiree of the United States Army. Chaplain and Past Commander John Folsom’s granddaughter, Kaitlin Folsom will sing the National Anthem. Several political dignitaries will also be present. The Big Bend Honor Guard will present the closing honors.

Greetings, Team

In Leon County, the next Graduation for Veterans completing the VTCt program will be May 18. THIS Monday, May 4, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming an invaluable Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery. Several Vets are awaiting a Mentor.

Yesterday’s walk-in legal clinic involved our Team of 17 Volunteers again (including 6 attys) working with 11 Veterans and family members (Thursday, 4/30/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. Plus we assisted several others by phone and email. The Leon County Tax Collector’s Office again helped several Veterans take their next step toward Reinstating their Driver’s Licenses! On Wednesday, the Food Delivery team (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Gregory Howard, Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams, and Leonard Bell) drove the truck and trailer load to various sites around the county.

REDUX: It’s time for an advocacy email from you! These next couple of weeks the Governor will be receiving, reviewing and deciding whether to approve many of the bills that were passed in this year’s legislative session that “ended” last month. His office needs to hear your emphatic support for General Patt Maney’s House Bill 199 which will strengthen Veterans’ Treatment Courts all over the state by increasing the number of Veterans entering the Criminal Court program to rebuild their lives and record, recover from addiction or other behavioral/ trauma personal problems and succeed in moving forward for their families and their future. Even a brief phone message to his office will accomplish the same purpose of showing our support (850/717-9337). The link to the Executive Office of the Governor is: https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

What else?

Thank you, Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091,

Tallahassee, Fl 32302,

850/ 570-1967

Last week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that U.S. Army Cpl. Joshua Corruth, 20, of Pompano Beach, Florida, killed during the Korean War, was accounted for March 13, 2025.

Corruth was buried in Lake Worth, Florida, on April 23, 2026

For the full story : https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/ID-Announcements/Article/4463697/soldier-accounted-for-from-korean-war-corruth-j/

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/remains-korean-war-soldier-florida-identified-after-decades/QVVPTEV4TJEO5E6ABO7SET7H24/

Tallahassee DAR and SAR Chapter Contacts

I would like to involve the DAR and SAR chapters in Tallahassee during our July 2026 monthly meeting. Would the President’s and/or an appropriate officer please send us an email regarding this collaboration. It’s for the America250 celebration.

outpost1 at commanderscoalition.org

11th Annual FLHSMV Veterans Recognition Day

Friday, June 12, 2026

You’re Invited

Join us as we honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans at the 11th Annual FLHSMV Veterans Recognition Day. Veteran‑focused organizations are welcome to participate, exhibit, and speak with FLHSMV and Florida Highway Patrol members about their programs, benefits, and opportunities. FLHSMV is proud to be one of the most veteran‑friendly departments in the most veteran‑friendly state in the nation. This event highlights the strong partnership we share with organizations like yours.

Exhibitor Information

• Display tables provided
• Set up your materials beginning at 10:00 AM
• Showcase your services and connect with attendees
• To participate as an exibitor, email: craigbenner@flhsmv.gov

Event Location

KIRKMAN BUILDING
2900 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Schedule

• 10:00 AM – Exhibitor Set‑Up
• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Veteran Organizations
Conference Room B201
• 12:00 PM – Presentation of Colors & Opening
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Presentations
Conference Rooms B202 & B203

Presentation areas and tables will be in the same rooms as last year.
Escorts are available in the front lobby.

Sauls-Bridges Post 13 has released their May 2026 monthly newsletter. It hasn’t been uploaded to their website yet, but when it’s uploaded it can be found at the link below.

News | Sauls Bridges FL Legion Post 13

Please join us next week for the monthly Meeting led by Branch 34 of the Fleet Reserve Association.

Greetings, Team

It’s time for an advocacy email from you! These next couple of weeks the Governor will be receiving, reviewing and deciding whether to approve many of the bills that were passed in this year’s legislative session that “ended” last month. His office needs to hear your emphatic support for General Patt Maney’s House Bill 199 which will strengthen Veterans’ Treatment Courts all over the state by increasing the number of Veterans entering the Criminal Court program to rebuild their lives and record, recover from addiction or other behavioral/ trauma personal problems and succeed in moving forward for their families and their future. Even a brief phone message to his office will accomplish the same purpose of showing our support (850/717-9337). The link to the Executive Office of the Governor is: https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact

In Leon County, the next Graduation for Veterans completing the VTCt program will be May 18. Monday, May 4, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming an invaluable Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery. Several Vets are awaiting a Mentor.

This Thursday’s walk-in legal clinic involved our Team of 17 Volunteers (including 6 attys) working with 17 Veterans and family members (4/23/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. Plus we assisted others by phone and email. Earlier, on Wednesday, the Food Delivery team (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Gregory Howard, Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams, Chris Bodiford, Johnnathan DeLille and Leonard Bell) drove the truck and trailer load to Veterans at Vet Village, among other sites (see picture).

Kudo’s to the extra effort volunteering for another walk-in clinic last Saturday, April 18, organized by the 2d Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Law Committee at Nims Middle School. The Veterans’ room for consults (5 people) included John Linney, Wayne Sprague, Khalid Shafi, Susie Caplowe and me.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

What else?

Thank you,

Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091, Tallahassee, Fl 32302, 850/ 570-1967

The 59th anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty is approaching this June. Would you be interested in attending a presentation by the USS Liberty Veterans Association? If you have never heard of the USS Liberty, I encourage you to watch the video below. ANYONE CAN VOTE. PLEASE VOTE.

Share this email so we can get a larger count among the Veteran organizations in our community.

Fleet Reserve Association Branch 34 will be leading the monthly meeting in May. We still need VSO’s to fill the remaining months of the year. Leading the coalition is a great way to get national exposure.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine honored the legendary Doolittle Raiders on the 84th anniversary of their daring raid on Imperial Japan at an event that also honored today's Airmen who continue in that bold tradition. This year’s celebration was April 17, 2026, and took place simultaneously with toasts sponsored by Air Force and Space Force units, AFA Chapters, and AFA members around the world. Watch the toast here

TODAY, April 19th 2026, from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sauls-Bridges Post 13 is hosting another third Sunday gaming event. Bring your own board games or come and borrow a game(s) from the Post. There is not an admission charge for anyone to play. Snacks and soft drinks are available to purchase. We are encouraging families to attend and consequently the bar will not be open.

Greetings, Team THIS Monday, April 20, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

The walk-in legal clinic last Thursday involved our Team of 19 Volunteers (including 5 attys and an FSU Law student) working with 14 Veterans and family members (4/16/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. Plus we assisted others by phone and email. 5 Veterans were assisted by Elizabeth Revills from the Leon Tax Collector’s Office progressing toward reinstatement of their driver’s licenses. We also presented TVLC Commemorative Coins to 211 Veteran Eddie McMillian and also to FSU Law student Becca Vaillancourt for their many weeks of assisting Vets at the clinics.

On Wednesday, Veterans at Vet Village and Homefront appreciated the truckload of food delivered by the team this week (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Gregory Howard, Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams, Chris Bodiford and Leonard Bell).

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

What else?

Thank you,

Dan Hendrickson,

for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative

www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091, Tallahassee, Fl 32302,

850/ 570-1967

VFW National Day of Service kicks off on May 2 this year. But you still have time to get your event on the map!

Take a look at what happens when you partner with others in your community to help others. This quick video from Post 658 in Georgia is sure to inspire you!

Here are five more quick ideas you can coordinate easily and make a big difference:

• Help stock shelves and sort food at a local pantry.

• Serve food at a homeless shelter and bring hygiene items, clothing, and other staples to donate.

• Visit a nursing home and bring activities and games to enjoy with residents.

• Clean up a local park, stretch of highway, or veterans’ cemetery.

• Volunteer at an animal shelter.

Sign Up Today

Still looking for inspiration? We have 100 Ideas for Day of Service to help you!

Senator Moody Leads Effort to Designate a Florida Museum as the Only National POW/MIA Museum and Memorial in the Country

“Prisoners of wars and soldiers missing in action deserve our prayers, support and recognition of their immense sacrifice. There is no better place to honor their service than Florida, because of our long tradition of supporting veterans. That is why I am leading the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act in the Senate to ensure Florida is the leader in preserving the memory of those who endured captivity and those who never came home. This effort is about keeping our promise to remember their sacrifice, stand with their families, and ensure future generations never forget the cost of freedom.”

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Source~ Office of U.S. Senator Ashley Moody

Benefits Available to Surviving Military Spouses in 2026

We are still seeking a Commander to lead Outpost 1

The primary responsibilities of the Outpost 1 Commander include:

1. Disseminating the monthly meeting minutes to Outpost 1 readers.

2. Ensuring that weekly VSO news and events are emailed in a timely manner.

3. Coordinating and setting up the monthly meeting.

4. Leading the monthly meeting in the event that no other Veteran Organization volunteers to do so.

5. Serving a one-year term.

These responsibilities represent the minimum requirements for the position.

Additional recommended but not required Duties:

— Participate and provide testimony annually at the Florida Capitol on matters related to Veteran legislation.

— Encourage other Veteran Organizations to share information about their activities and initiatives across Florida’s Big Bend region.

— Maintain strong working relationships with Outpost 1’s community partners.

As your current National Commander, I personally dedicate around one hour per week to producing and distributing emails for Outpost 1. While the role is not labor-intensive, it is highly important, as it provides valuable local and national exposure to Veteran organizations that rely on this support.

Eligibility Requirements:

Individuals interested in serving as Outpost 1 Commander must:

— Not be currently serving as an officer in a member organization

— Be an honorably discharged Veteran.

— Have prior experience serving in a Veteran Organization.

— Be elected to the position by a vote of Outpost 1 members.

Commanders Coalition is a 501(c)(19) Veterans nonprofit organization. All positions within Commanders Coalition, including the Outpost Commander, are unpaid volunteer roles.

Commanders Coalition is not a membership-driven organization. There is no expectation or pressure to recruit new members.

Our primary focus is on serving the Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) in our communities by ensuring that monthly meetings take place. These monthly meetings represent the core purpose and most important function of our organization.

If you are interested in this leadership opportunity, please express your interest so that we may move forward with the nomination and election process.

Video courtesy of WCTV

Tonight at 9:00PM, you can welcome home these heroes at the Tallahassee Airport.

AS A REMINDER—we share what we receive.

If your Veteran organization is not covered in the weekly report, it’s not because we don’t like you. It is because nobody from your organization sent us any news or events. The Commander’s Coalition is here to support Veteran Organizations. It is the sole purpose for our existence.

That being said. Some of you all produce some OUTSTANDING newsletters. Some of which are fairly large. I am doing my best to try and figure out a way to send every newsletter that is sent our way. We have to convert the PDF’s to JPG’s and attach them to the email.

Another reminder. If you have a 501c3 which is doing something for Veterans or a Veteran organization, LET US KNOW. This newsletter is seen at the highest levels from the local, state, and federal government. Help us help you.

Special thanks to Craig Benner for sending us news to include in our Weekly Report.

• Air Force Reserve Birthday - April 14

• Army Reserves Birthday - April 23

• Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare - April 29

• National Military Brats Day - April 30

GOLD STAR SPOUSES AND EARNED VA BENEFITS

• April 5 is Gold Star Spouses Day. VA works to make sure surviving spouses know about the many benefits available to help them rebuild their lives. 

• https://news.va.gov/146027/gold-star-spouse-va-benefits/

Honor Flight Tallahassee

Tallahassee - Honor Flight Tallahassee is dedicated to honoring our nation’s veterans by providing them with an opportunity to visit the memorials that stand as a testament to their bravery and dedication. The next flight is scheduled for April 18, 2026. There are still several seats available for veterans to attend (Korean – Vietnam era). Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Honor Flight organization. If you’d like to get involved with Honor Flight activities throughout the year, please complete an application and send it to our office. You’ll be added to the email group and notified of upcoming events. For more information visit - Join – Volunteers | Honor Flight Tallahassee

Veteran’s Trust in VA hits record high:

https://news.va.gov/146004/veterans-trust-in-va-hits-record-high/

• Latest VA NEWS - Veterans Benefits Administration

• VA benefits claims backlog under 100K for first time since 2020 https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-benefits-claims-backlog-under-100k-for-first-time-since-2020/?utm_source=middle&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VetResources&utm_id=25FEB2026

March/April 2026 | Air & Space Forces Magazine

Our next quarterly meeting is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026 at the elks Lodge from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. More info will be forthcoming.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks and enjoy!

Tom Carney, President

AFA Bud West Chapter #419 - Tallahassee

(850) 597/1639

AmVets will be having its 16^th Annual Golf Tournament (Ray House) on April 27. There were 100 players last year; so, sign up early.

Greetings, Team

Our Team of 17 Volunteers (including 6 attys and an FSU Law student) worked with 13 Veterans and family members Thursday, 4/9/26, for our TVLC Legal Clinic at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. Plus we assisted others by phone and email.

Kudo’s again to TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, and Gregory Howard) for a trip to Quincy Wed (with Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams, and Leonard Bell waiting at this end); (see photo) the crew is now prepping to distribute umpteen boxes of donated Girl Scout Cookies next Wednesday to several locations around Tallahassee.

Monday, April 20, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

Donations to TVLC from various events in recent months and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

What else?

Thank you, Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091, Tallahassee, Fl 32302,

850/ 570-1967

It’s time to sign up for our 20 April Tallahassee MOAA social.

Social details:

Monday, 20 April

• 5:00 p.m. doors open for social and happy hour. Hors d’oeuvre, coffee, and tea will be available. The bar will be open

• 6:00 p.m. Chapter meeting followed by dinner

• Elks Lodge, 276 N Magnolia Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Guest Speaker will be Major Deanna Epley, USA, Nurse Practitioner based out of Tallahassee specializing in Family Medicine. Deanna has practiced in multiple settings in Tallahassee, most recently at TMH Behavioral Health and has taught in both the FSU and FAMU nursing programs.

Deanna is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. She served in the Vietnam War and Cold War. Deanna treated a vast range of injuries while in Vietnam. Since then, she has shared her story and brought awareness to veteran mental health. She helps veterans, including those with PTSD, to seek out treatments best suited for them.

She has been the Charge Nurse at various hospitals including Methodist Hospital, Peoria, Illinois, from 1966-1967 and the United States Army Nurse Corps, Washington, from 1967-1969; she was the School Nurse at the American School in Darmstadt, Germany from 1969-1970. She also was an instructor at University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami from 1974-1980 and an Assistant Professor at Barry University in Miami. Deanna has been listed as a noteworthy nursing educator by Marquis Who’s Who.

Please register online using this link.. Cutoff is Tuesday, April 14th.

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/tallahassee-moaa-dinner-april-20-2026/

Planned social events for the remainder of the year are as follows, and enjoy the attached newsletter.

• June 15 – with speaker

• September 21 – with speaker

• December 4 – Holiday Social

We look forward to seeing everyone.

Ricky Turner, Major, USAF (Ret)

Vice President, MOAA Tallahassee Chapter

Greetings, Team

Congratulations to Post 13 American Legion, for Thurs evening’s FIRST EVER “Candidates Meet and Greet” for the Veteran community. The nonpartisan event drew a crowd near ninety in all, including an unexpected 24 local candidates (from both parties as well as “no party” candidates) for a variety of public offices. After our weekly legal clinic, Veterans from several VSO’s and family and visitors from the public came streaming in to meet candidates both familiar and brand new on the Tallahassee electoral scene. And people listened to brief intros from each candidate and then mingled among the 24 tabled locations-- for HOURS. There were no partisan jabs or even tension, as some candidates respectfully signed each other’s petitions to qualify for their own opponents’ candidacy (even across political parties ha). The races included 2d Circuit Judges, Congressional candidates for District 2, Fl House districts 8 & 9, Leon County Commission districts 3 & 5, and Tallahassee Mayor and city commission seats 3 & 5. Local tv crews (as well as campus media programs) reported the evening’s event.

This Monday, April 6, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

The monthly Commanders Coalition meeting Wednesday shared a long list of upcoming events, fund-raisers and campaigns among the near record number of participants from area VSOs and support organizations and agencies (from several counties and both states!). Dennis Hall and John Folsom co-chaired. At least 4 local officials’ offices were represented for constituency response and hearing about our various events for the spring and summer.

Our Team of 23 Volunteers (including 7 attys and two FSU Law students) worked with 17 Veterans and family members Thursday, 4/2/26, for our TVLC Legal Clinic at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. Plus we assisted at least others by phone and email, in and out of state.

Kudo’s again to TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, and Gregory Howard) for a trip to Quincy Wed (with Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams, Leonard Bell, David Martinez and Chris Bodiford waiting at this end); the crew is now prepping to distribute umpteen boxes of donated Girl Scout Cookies next Wednesday to several locations around Tallahassee.

Redux:

No gubernatorial action yet on the bills passed by the 2026 Legislature: NEW VETERANS BENEFITS: Dental Benefits were expanded (HB 253), Veteran Housing subsidies were added when moving is delayed (SB 1602), among several Veterans bills on their way to the Governor. Since the appropriations process hasn’t been worked out as scheduled, the “Regular session” did not finalize the 26-27 Florida budget on time. Before session adjourned, though, more than a dozen Veteran-related bills were passed in one or both chambers in the usual Bipartisan co-operation, including the reform bill by Gen. Patt Maney strengthening the 34 Veteran Courts around the state! (HB 199). Also See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now at least 64 Veteran-related bills which were pending this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we updated daily during the session. Some legislation passed may present potential harm to some Veterans if signed by the Governor; other bills fortunately died on the floor of one or the other chamber as the session ended last week.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

Donations to TVLC from various events in recent months and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

What else?

Thank you, Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091, Tallahassee, Fl 32302, 850/ 570-1967

US Navy Veteran & Actor James Tolkan dies at 94

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-movies/actor-james-tolkan-has-seen-it-all/

The donation chargeback scam ruining good causes

A few nonprofits recently noticed something strange on their donation pages.

Dozens of $1 donations are appearing overnight.

Then more the next day. And the next.

But a few weeks later, the chargebacks started arriving.

According to NonProfit PRO, Each disputed donation usually carries a $20–$50 bank fee. What looked like harmless micro-donations can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in losses.

What’s happening?

In many cases, this pattern comes from card-testing attacks.

Quick and accessible giving paths = easy targets.

That’s donation forms.

Warning signs

Organizations that have dealt with this say the activity usually looks like:

✅ Dozens of tiny donations in a short time window

✅ Transactions time > filling out a form

✅ Multiple cards from similar IP ranges

✅ Spike in failed authorization attempts

✅ Low-value suspicious payments alongside failed transactions

✅ Nonsensical or random names and email addresses in submissions

✅ Sudden increases in payment or server log volume

✅ Chargebacks appearing days or weeks later

✅ Because the individual donations are small, the pattern can go unnoticed until the disputes begin.

What nonprofits can do to reduce the risk

Teams that have experienced this have added a few practical safeguards:

1. Honeypot fields that bots fill automatically but people never see.

2. Form timing limits that block submissions completed in seconds.

3. reCAPTCHA thresholds to filter automated traffic.

4. Monitoring transactions so suspicious donations can be voided before settlement.

~Special thanks to RallyUp for this information

April 1, 2026, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes

Attendees: Dennis Hall, John Folsom, Frank Roycraft, Liz Crawford, Ritaann Schultz, Andrew (Andy) Santa-Pinter, Chuck Howell, Eric Smith, Courtney Thomas, Marc Dickieson, Susie Caplowe, Dan Hendrickson, Tony Minichiello, Paul Rogerson, Tom McCluskey, Ed Gifford, Charles LeCroy, Amanda Daugherty, David Wilson, Tom Napier, Col. Ronnie “Mike” Michael, David O’Keefe, Gary Zirin, Cindy Myers, Valencia Scott, L J Stuckey, Fred Ingley, Gail Ernst, Paula Hubert, Craig Benner, Roxann Dressel, Alex “Butch” Topicz, Earnest Reed, Johnnie Roberts, Bill Ferris, Washington Sanchez, Tina Caldwell, Sharon Weeden,Heather Stephens, Derrick Sykes, Berline Belizaire, Mary LaBatt, Rob Winchester, Michael Mann, Debra Mann, and Marianne Trussell.

Dennis Hall led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meeting and led a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. Dennis read the names of those killed in the recent ‘action’, welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, to keep it brief and to keep it veteran business only, no personal business, politics, or personal attacks. Dennis asked Ernie Reed to deliver an opening prayer which included the names of the recently killed in the ‘action’ in Iraq. He then handed the microphone to Frank Roycraft to begin.

Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. He is still Commander for another year; this will be year #4. Veterans are still looking for a loop hole to a gaming bill which will be back next year. He was given a tremendous honor as a veteran. FSU Softball honored him recently with his being able to throw out the first pitch – which he did get across the plate. He also got a ball signed by all players. The Post is doing well.

Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. June 14 will be Veteran Appreciation Day at his agency. VSOs and veterans are welcome to set up a table. If you have questions please see him. If all of you who are able to stay at the end of the meeting instead of exiting as soon as the meeting is over would be appreciated by all attendees.

Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. Dream Flights is free but its flight tentatively set for April this year is cancelled due to the lack of a pilot because of Forthe partial government shutdown. Brochures were provided last month that contained a QR ”Scan Here” logo and a website to donate. It is hoped there will be a Dream Flight this coming fall around Veterans Day.

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. A monthly fundraiser on the first Saturday of the month (this Saturday) is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts aresold. Stop by and please buy donuts.

Paul Rogerson, AmVets Post 1776, American Legion Post 13, Fleet Reserve Association. Reporting for Gordon Lightfoot, he reports on the AmVets Golf Tournament. AmVets will be having its 16^th Annual Golf Tournament (Ray House) on April 27. There were 100 players last year; sign up early. It’s a great fundraiser. Brochures were made available last month. Volunteers are to be thereat 6:00; registration is at 8:00; and play begins at 9:00. Limited brochures were again made available. For information call: Gordon Lightfoot at 850-322-6924.

Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. He has done it in the past (AmVetsGolf Tournament) and he had a fun time.

Ed Gifford, Commander, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Memorial Day will be celebrated on May 25 starting at 11 am. There will be a raffle and the guest speaker will be David Wilson. On July 4 Post 49 will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States with fireworks, etc.

Valencia Scott, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. Akin Akinyemi sends his regrets; he thanks all of you. They are always available to help with Property Tax exemptions and other veteran issues. The office is looking forward toStand Down.

David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Forces Association. There will be a cemetery visit on Sunday, April 26 at 4:00 pm at Roselawn Cemetery on Piedmont where local veteran groups will visit the graves of 7 men who died serving America in Vietnam and 1 who died serving America in Afghanistan. Everyone is welcome – especially children - please bring your children. Flyers were provided.

Andrew (Andy) R. Santa-Pinter, Director, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Introduced himself; he goes by Andy. The Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC)has been undergoing an inspection for the past two days. Pleased to say the TNC passed with flying colors. The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the TNC on Saturday, May 23 at 10 am.

L. J. Stuckey, Adjutant, American Legion Post 502 in Bainbridge. Here to take advantage of good information. For more information, please call her at 505-651-6334.

Earnest Reed, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Branch 34. FRA represents the Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard. He will leave the report to Butch Topicz.

Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. The Fleet Reserve Association is fundraising to build a Navy memorial at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC) and for flags honoring the fallen at the TNC. A raffle is held (drawing on July 18) with chances for $5 apiece or $20 for 5 chances. The prize is a Custom Crafted Corn Hole Game. Flyers were made available.

Johnnie Roberts. No report.

Bill Ferris, CVMA 20-12. Veteran suicide is still a problem. Be there for a veteran. No report.

Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville;Commander, American Legion District 2. Made the membership number needed to compete nationally. District 2 meeting is Saturday, May 26 in Sneads.

Derrick Sykes, Big Bend Hospice. Veteran volunteers are needed to sit with veterans; they also have a veteran ceremony.

Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.

Heather Stephens, VA Suicide Prevention. Flyers were made available. There will be a 16^th Annual Walk & Roll VA2K at the Tallahassee VA Clinic and Veteran Resource Fair on May 5 from 10 am to 1 pm. A Women Veteran Brunch will be hosted at Pope’s Museum in Ochlocknee, Georgia. Flyer includes information about purchasing tickets for the May 9 from 10 am to1 pm event, and the May 1 deadline to purchase tickets.

Tina Caldwell, Right at Home. Veteran preferred provider that most veterans do not know about. Get the word out about VA benefits. Two hours to 24 hourservices. Easy form to fill out to qualify.

Sharon Weeden, Owner, Right at Home. Independent in-home VA preferred provider for in home care. No co-pay. Veterans have no idea of VA benefitsavailable.

Courney Thomas, Office of the Mayor, Tallahassee. No report.

Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) in March performed 12 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). This included Final Salute where honors are given to veterans (12) previously interred without honors. During the month of March approximately 266 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,532interments thru the end of March 2026 since the TNC opened in 2015.

Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard; DAV, Chapter 5. The next meeting is on Tuesday, April 28 and it is limited to one hour.

Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. No report.

Ritaann Schultz, Women Veterans Unite, American Legion Post 340. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. Floridians are lucky as there is a brain injury center in Tampa which is 1 of only 5 in the nation. She bicycled 155 miles for brain Injury and all money she raised will benefit Florida veterans. She uses red light therapy and it works. VA needs to push it so more veterans will use it. Governor DeSantis signed a bill designating March as Brain Injury Month in Florida.

Washington Sanchez, President Tallahassee Veterans Outreach. May 15 and 16, 2026, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm are the dates of the North Florida Homeless /At Risk Veteran Stand Down at the FAMU Lawson Center, 1800 Wahnish Way. No children are allowed at the event!! Cards with detailedinformation and services offered were made available. Go to:www.Tallahasseeveteranorganization.org for details, services offered, andinformation. Pre-registration is required, ID must be presented, and veteran status must be verified.

Paula Hubert, VP, Women Veterans Unite. No report. She announced that she has a friend with dementia – he is a veteran. She would like to talk to anyone who knows of services available to him.

Cindy Myers, Legal Services of North Florida. She is grant funded. Works with homeless and at risk of homelessness and its issues as well as getting veterans their landlord deposits back

Rob Winchester, Camp Gordon Johnston. They are still looking for a professional fundraiser. Since they have no money, they need one who will work on a commission basis. They are also looking for “young blood” to serve on the Board, get involved, etc.

Tom Napier, Vice President, Honor Flight. Springtime Tallahassee was a success thanks to Chuck Howell and Roger Hewitt. 1,200 American flags werequickly given out. The next Honor Flight will be on April 18; it will be their 12^thtrip. Orientation will be on April 4 and April 8 all persons must attend one if they are going on Honor Flight on April 18.

Susan (Susie) Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative, Clinic Volunteer Coordinator. Every Wednesday the volunteer’s go to Quincy to come to Lake Ella to give food stuff away to veterans. The Legal Collaborative starts every Thursday at 3. They will work with “Mike” Michael.

Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Veterans still need legal and other assistance. Different agencies show up each week to offer assistance. Mentors are badly needed. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow (every Thursday) from 3-5 pm. Walk ins are welcome. Monday at 3 pm please be at the signing of the bill to support veterans as there will be thosepresent who oppose the bill.

David T. O’Keefe, County Commissioner, District 5. Dan Hendrickson made him aware of the need for bus service to be extended 1.5 miles to the Tallahassee National Cemetery. Looking for groups to advocate for the extension. He will stay after the meeting to talk to people.

Gary Zirin, Chief of Staff to David O’Keefe. Here to help with David O’Keefe’s issues.

Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.

Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Call if you need help; they are alive and kicking. The office is open to all Monday thru Thursday; on Fridays they are out in the district.

Fred Ingley, MOAA. No report.

Gail Ernst, MOAA, American Legion. No report. At the request of Tom Carney, of the Bud West Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association, the next meeting will be on Thursday, April 30 from 11:30 – 1:00 at the Elks Lodge; the Annual Awards will be given.

Colonel R.D. “Mike” Michael, Commanding Officer & Professor of Naval Science.
Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officers! The Naval ROTC Scholarship application for academic year 2027 will open in April 2026. Please encourage rising high school seniors to apply. Four-year National Scholarship benefit, application checklist, and general requirements can be found at this link: Four-Year National Scholarship. Contact the local Navy or Marine Corps Recruiters for assistance with completing the application. The Naval ROTC can assist with providing an overview and benefits of the Naval ROTC program (POC 850-412-3980). The Florida State University Football game against Clemson on 31 Oct will be their military appreciation night.

Charles LeCroy, Past Commander Post 13. Thanks to all of you. Get involved. Keep On Keepin’ On.

Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 13. Next meeting is in April 30 at 6 pm; the fifth Thursday of the month. Recruiting is always ongoing.

Debra Mann, American Legion, District 2 President. The next District 2 meeting will be at Post 13 in American Legion Room at the Hootch on April30.

John Folsom, American Legion Post 13. Thanks to all of you. The America Legion Memorial Day Ceremony is Monday at 11 am at Oaklawn Cemetery. The singer is scheduled (his granddaughter). The meet and greet of candidates has lots of people signed up.

Dennis Hall, Commander American Legion Post 13, Army National Guard, Big Bend Honor Guard. Dennis explained and gave details (2 minutes per candidate, tables etc.) regarding the meet and greet of candidates (judges, commissioners, etc.). 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. On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the menu will consist of spiral ham, green beans, potato salad, and Peach Betty. A donation is accepted. Fleet Reserve will host in May.

Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee NationalCemetery, Inc. The next Quarterly Support Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5 pm at the Administration Building Conference Room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. Final Salute was held on Wednesday, March 25 at 3 pm. Please attend - all of you who can. She thanked the Patriot Guard for the large turnout. The turnout was good but besides the Patriot Guard, the only thing that brought the numbers up was the large family that had a loved one receive honors, the rest were the usual attendees. Bottom line, the numbers were not increased. The next quarterly Final Salute will be on June 24, 2026 at 3 pm. Please attend!!

Dennis Hall led a salute to the American Flag and asked Chaplain Eric Smith to provide the closing prayer.

The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 6,2026, at 10 am at 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee Fl 32303 at Lake Ella.

The following flyers were emailed to us in order to be included in the minutes. If your flyer is missing, we did not receive it.

Many members of Outpost 1 are also members of Chapter 96 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. If you served in Vietnam, please consider joining the VVA. Click the logo to visit their website.

VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY

2026 NATIONAL EVENTS

https://vva.org/vietnam-war-veterans-day-2026-events/

Greetings, Team

14 Volunteers (including 8 attys and two FSU Law students) worked with 16 Veterans and family members Thursday, 3/26, for our TVLC Legal Clinic at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. Plus we assisted at least 3 others by phone, in and out of state. Veteran Sam Adams, despite having already completed any court obligations for community service, worked again steadily Thurs from early setup to late closing. Big Bend 211’s Eddie McMillian showed his expertise assisting Veterans with unusual legal issues; Kathy Glasson also deserves special credit again filling in for folks who missed this week.

Kudo’s again to TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week-- Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Sam Adams, Gregory Howard, and Eddie McMillian, Veteran volunteers who delivered the load of food and drinks again Wednesday from Quincy to several locations around Tallahassee.

This past Monday, March 23, the Veterans Court session saw several Veterans proceeding successfully thru the 4-phase program. Monday, April 6, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

Redux:

No gubernatorial action yet on the bills passed by the 2026 Legislature: NEW VETERANS BENEFITS: Dental Benefits were expanded (HB 253), Veteran Housing subsidies were added when moving is delayed (SB 1602), among several Veterans bills on their way to the Governor. Since the appropriations process hasn’t been worked out as scheduled, the “Regular session” did not finalize the 26-27 Florida budget on time. Before session adjourned, though, more than a dozen Veteran-related bills were passed in one or both chambers in the usual Bipartisan co-operation, including the reform bill by Gen. Patt Maney strengthening the 34 Veteran Courts around the state! (HB 199). Also See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now at least 64 Veteran-related bills which were pending this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we updated daily during the session. Some legislation passed may present potential harm to some Veterans if signed by the Governor; other bills fortunately died on the floor of one or the other chamber as the session ended last week.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

Donations to TVLC from various events in recent months and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

What else?

Thank you, Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091,

Tallahassee, Fl 32302,

850/ 570-1967

ODU Cadets Honored

The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer awarded eight meritorious service medals and two Purple Hearts to cadets from Old Dominion University Army ROTC during a private ceremony on March 22, 2026. The cadets from ODU were recognized for their bravery and sacrifice during the March 12 shooting incident in their ROTC classroom. The names of the cadets have not been released in order to respect their privacy.
| U.S. Army photo by Ian Ives
~Source DVIDS

START YOUR DAY—WWW.COMMANDERSCOALITION.ORG

Special thanks to our founder John Folsom who persevered all these years to make sure the vision didn’t die!

The IRS even told us that donations made in 2025 are tax deductible!

A member of Outpost 1 has suggested we posthumously nominate Major John Haynes Sr for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government’s highest civilian honor. Awarded by the President, it is often presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields.

Nomination, Selection, and Presentation

There is no formal procedure for nominations or the evaluation of potential recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The President can award the medal to “any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative.” Selections often reflect the President’s political and personal interests.

The medal is often, though not always, presented at an annual White House ceremony.

Commanders Coalition National Website Update

The board voted to shutdown the membership website because it was costing $60/mo and nobody was using it. Membership records have been retained.

HOWEVER

We have gone back to our roots and focused on the core value proposition—Veteran News and Events. This new page is for national Veteran news. Think of it like a Reuters for Veterans. We’re still adding Veteran Organizations.

USAF Veteran Chuck Norris Switches Sides at 86 🕊️

Norris joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman (AP) in 1958 and was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea. It was there that Norris acquired the nickname "Chuck" and began his training in Tang Soo Do (tangsudo). When he returned to the United States, he continued to serve as an AP at March Air Force Base in California until his discharge in 1962.

Here are just a few honors he received in his lifetime

—In 2001, Norris received the Veteran of the Year award by the U.S. Air Force

—On March 28, 2007, Commandant Gen. James T. Conway made Norris an honorary United States Marine during a dinner at the commandant’s residence in Washington, D.C.
—On December 2, 2010, he was given the title honorary Texas Ranger by Texas Governor Rick Perry.
~Source Wikipedia

Greetings, Team

This Monday, March 23, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon CountyVeterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E), and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

Our TVLC Legal Clinic at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13, this past Thursday afternoon, 3/19/26 included a team of 12 Volunteers (including 8 attys).

17 Veterans and family came in, plus we assisted at least 3 others by phone, in and out of state. Veteran Sam Adams, despite having already completed any court obligations for community service, worked steadily Thurs from early setup to late closing and helping set up for the meeting of Women Veterans Unite. Kathy Glasson also deserves special credit filling in for folks who missed this week.

Kudo’s again to TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week-- Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Sam Adams, Gregory Howard, and Eddie McMillian, Veteran volunteers whodelivered the load of food and drinks again Wednesday from Quincy to 4 locations around Tallahassee.

No gubernatorial action yet on the bills passed by the 2026 Legislature: NEW VETERANS BENEFITS: Dental Benefits were expanded (HB 253), Veteran Housing subsidies were added when moving is delayed (SB 1602), among several Veterans bills on their way to the Governor. Since the appropriations process hasn’t been worked out as scheduled, the “Regular session” did not finalize the 26-27 Florida budget on time. Before session adjourned, though, more than a dozen Veteran-related bills were passed in one or both chambers in the usual Bipartisan co-operation, including the reform bill by Gen. Patt Maney strengthening the 34 Veteran Courts around the state! (HB 199). Also See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now at least 64 Veteran-related bills which were pending this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we updated daily during the session. Some legislation passed may present potential harm to some Veterans if signed by the Governor; other bills fortunately died on the floor of one or the other chamber as the session ended last week.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

Donations to TVLC from various events in recent months and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

What else?

Thank you,

Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091,

Tallahassee, Fl 32302

850/ 570-1967

COMMANDERS COALITION RENAMED FOR

WAR HERO, VETERANS CHAMPION

AND BELOVED SENTINEL CO-FOUNDER

Gammon Irons

TALLAHASSEE, FL — In a move that recognizes decades of extraordinary military service and tireless advocacy for Florida’s veteran community, the Commanders Coalition, an alliance of veterans organizations based in Tallahassee Florida, has been officially renamed the Major John Leroy Haynes Sr. Commanders Coalition. The announcement, made in coordination with Governor Ron DeSantis’s office and state military leadership, honors a Marine Corps legend whose life embodied the motto “Semper Fidelis” — always faithful.

Major John Leroy Haynes Sr., USMC (Ret.), who passed away in November 2023 at age 93, was more than a decorated combat veteran of three wars. He was a man who spent nearly half a century after his military retirement helping fellow veterans navigate the complex bureaucracy of benefits and recognition they had earned through their service. The renaming of Florida’s premier military-civilian collaboration initiative ensures that his name — and the values he represented — will continue to inspire future generations of service members and advocates.

“Major Haynes represented everything this coalition stands for,” said a spokesperson from the Governor’s office. “His life was dedicated to strengthening the bonds between military installations, state government, and the communities that support our service members. This renaming is a fitting tribute to a man who never stopped serving.”

A Boy Who Couldn't Wait to Serve

John Leroy Haynes was born on February 6, 1930, in Madison, Florida, at the dawn of the Great Depression. His family lived on his grandfather’s farm in abject poverty, where every member contributed whatever they could to survive. As a 12-year-old boy, young John worked delivering ice to help sustain his family — sometimes hauling 50-pound blocks up flights of stairs, a Herculean task for a child his age.

The Haynes family was deeply religious and instilled in their children a profound sense of duty to faith, family, and country. John’s mother exemplified this compassion in a simple but powerful way: after every family supper, she would gather whatever leftovers remained and place them in a bag, which she hung on the back door for an elderly black neighbor who was even worse off than they were. In the 1930s, there was no government assistance — only the kindness of neighbors who understood suffering.

This upbringing shaped the man John Haynes would become: tough as nails, when necessary, but never without compassion for those in need.

When World War II erupted, patriotism consumed the Haynes household. John’s father served in the Merchant Marine in the Pacific Theater. His older brother Jim served on a Navy destroyer in the Pacific, where his ship was attacked by a kamikaze plane — an assault that killed 53 men and left Jim blinded in one eye. Another brother, Donald, also served and suffered from depression for years after the war.

Young John participated daily in actions that contributed to the national war effort: creating victory gardens, collecting scrap iron and steel for the “Salvage for Victory” drives, purchasing war bonds, and joining the Civil Air Patrol at age 13. But for John Haynes, these contributions weren’t enough.

At age 13, he attempted to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He was rejected.

Undeterred, he tried again at age 15 in 1945 — and this time, he succeeded. The circumstances of his enlistment became family legend: John had been staying with his uncle at the time. After he enlisted, his uncle thought he had returned home, while his mother thought he was still with the uncle. Neither had telephones. The truth didn’t emerge until John’s mother received a letter from her son — postmarked from boot camp.

By the time he turned 16, John Haynes was celebrating his birthday in China, serving with the 1st Marine Division.

Three Wars, Thirty Years, Countless Acts of Valor

After completing boot camp, Private Haynes joined the 1st Marine Division in North China in December 1945. The division had been sent to accept the surrender of the Japanese Army, but after that mission was completed, the Marines became embroiled in the Chinese Civil War. They were responsible for keeping the railroad open between North China and Manchuria — a vital lifeline that transported coal from the mines to the south. Without coal, there would be no production, and the people would freeze. Chinese communist forces continually attempted to destroy the railroads and bridges, and young Haynes found himself in the middle of the conflict. He remained in China for two years, participating in what became known as the Chihchiang Campaign.

After his service in China, Haynes was stationed at Quantico, Virginia, with the 22nd Marine Infantry Regiment. In 1949, as a Sergeant E-4, he was selected for duty at Marine Barracks 8th & Eye in Washington, D.C., with the prestigious Marine Corps Ceremonial Detachment. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant E-5 before deploying to Korea.

In Korea, Haynes served with the 1st Marine Division for 13 months as a Platoon Sergeant and acting Platoon Commander. During this deployment, he was promoted to Technical Sergeant E-6. It was in Korea that Haynes experienced the brutality of war firsthand. During a devastating Korean artillery and mortar barrage, he was blown into the air and slammed against a wall, his body peppered with shrapnel. When he regained consciousness, despite his own severe injuries, he dragged another wounded Marine to safety before collapsing. For his actions, he received the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V.”

Upon returning to the United States, Haynes was assigned to the Marine Corps Development Center at Quantico, where he served as the NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) of the Mine Field/Obstacle Breaching Section, testing methods and techniques for breaching minefields and obstacles. During this assignment, he attended Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School at Indian Head, Maryland — a specialization that would define much of his later career.

Haynes was then assigned to the Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as NCOIC of the Demolition & Mine Warfare School. This assignment came as a result of a tragic training accident in which three Marines were killed and four seriously injured. The Marine Corps instituted a new requirement that both the Officer in Charge and NCOIC of the Demolitions & Mine Warfare School be experienced combat engineers and school-trained EOD technicians. Haynes fit the bill perfectly.

During his tour at Camp Lejeune, Haynes was selected for Master Sergeant, then First Sergeant, and finally Warrant Officer (with the official designation of Marine Gunner). As a Gunner, he returned to EOD School for recertification in both conventional and nuclear weapons EOD, then was assigned to Fleet Marine Force Western Pacific, serving in Okinawa, Korea, Borneo, Thailand, and the Philippines.

His subsequent assignments included Base EOD Officer at Quantico; Instructor and Officer in Charge of the Nuclear Weapons section at EOD School, Indian Head; and Marine Corps Representative at the Navy EOD Technical Facility. During this period, he was selected for commission as a Second Lieutenant.

Vietnam: The Silver Star

Major Haynes served two deployments in Vietnam, and it was there that his courage under fire earned him the nation’s third-highest combat decoration: the Silver Star Medal.

During one mission, Haynes was tasked with destroying three bombs that had been dropped behind enemy lines but had failed to detonate. If the enemy obtained these bombs, they would use the explosives to fashion deadly booby traps. When Haynes’s helicopter landed, his team immediately came under heavy enemy fire. To make matters worse, a support helicopter was shot down, stranding two pilots.

Without hesitation, Haynes located the downed pilots and got them aboard a rescue helicopter. But as they prepared to take off, it was discovered that a soldier was still missing. Haynes ordered the helicopter to return and exited the aircraft to find the missing man — all while under intense enemy fire. After locating the soldier, they returned to the waiting helicopter and took off again, bullets tearing through the air around them.

It was a miracle that any of them survived. For his extraordinary heroism, Major Haynes was awarded the Silver Star.

In January 1970, then-Captain Haynes was reassigned to Fleet Marine Force Western Pacific, where he served as the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force (3rd MAF) EOD Officer for Vietnam, Thailand, and Okinawa. Upon completion of this tour, he was once again assigned to Naval EOD School at Indian Head, Maryland, as the Marine Corps Representative and Commander of the Marine Detachment.

Major Haynes retired from active duty in 1975 after 30 years of service. His decorations and awards included the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star and Combat “V,” Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with three stars, two Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Unit Citations, Combat Action Ribbon, China Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the Cross of Gallantry (Vietnam).

The Measure of a Man: Strength and Compassion

Major Haynes’s son, John Haynes Jr., co-founder of the Sentinel newspaper, often reflected on what made his father truly exceptional. Yes, his father was tough — almost impossibly so. Once, while loading hay from a loft, the Major stepped on an unlocked trap door that gave way under his weight. He lunged forward and gashed his shin on the edge of a rafter so deeply that his shinbone was exposed. Blood was everywhere.

His father-in-law wanted to go to the hospital immediately, but the Major refused. He washed the wound with turpentine, ripped up a burlap bag to make a makeshift bandage, wrapped it tightly around his leg, and finished the job before seeking medical attention.

Another time, in his mid-sixties, he was working on a pier in his backyard when he slipped on a slope and his leg buckled underneath him. Despite the pain, he finished the job. When he finally went to the hospital the next day, he was diagnosed with torn ligaments and immediately scheduled for surgery. His son didn’t even know about the injury for months.

But toughness was only part of the story. What truly defined Major Haynes was his compassion and sense of justice.

As a teenager, John Jr. worked alongside his father on their small tobacco farm, hiring a couple of black teenagers from the neighborhood to help with the harvest. One young man, James, was big and strong and worked like a horse. The other, Francis, was short, skinny, and scraggly — he couldn’t come close to matching James’s output despite his best efforts.

One afternoon after the work was done, the Major paid both young men in cash. Hand-cutting and hanging tobacco in August was hot, exhausting work, and their pay was well earned. John Jr. was surprised to notice that both were paid the same amount despite the obvious disparity in their performance.

When he asked his father about it, the Major told him to get in the truck. They drove about a mile down a back road that bordered their property, and the Major stopped near an old shack that was falling apart — barely fit for human habitation.

“This is where Francis lives,” the Major said. “He may not do as much work as James, but he does what he can, and he really needs the money.”

John Jr. never forgot that lesson, or what it revealed about his father’s character. Major Haynes rejected the notion that traditional masculinity meant suppressing emotion or refusing to show compassion. He believed that true strength meant standing up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves. He believed that a man’s worth was measured not by how much pain he could endure in silence, but by how much good he could do for others.

Service After Sacrifice: A Second Career Helping Veterans

After retiring from the Marine Corps at age 45, Major Haynes worked for 17 years in the Navy Trident Submarine Program, where his expertise in explosives as a former EOD technician proved invaluable. He served two years at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., and 15 years as the Naval Sea Systems Command Trident Submarine Coordinator at the Eastern Test Range in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

But even as he worked in the civilian sector, Major Haynes never stopped serving his fellow veterans. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Maryland, then earned a Master’s degree at Central Michigan University. And then he dedicated himself to what would become his life’s second mission: helping veterans obtain the benefits they had earned.

For more than 20 years, Major Haynes served as a volunteer Service Officer with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). He helped thousands of veterans and military widows navigate the often-Byzantine bureaucracy of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many times, he helped needy veterans out of his own pocket while they waited for the paperwork he had submitted on their behalf to be processed. He was seldom repaid, but he couldn’t have cared less.

In 2005, Major Haynes retired to Monticello, Florida, where he had spent much of his childhood. He remained active in numerous veterans’ organizations, holding leadership positions in virtually all of them:

· 1978: Deputy District Governor, Lions Club International (Maryland); received the Distinguished Citizen of Maryland Award from the Governor

· 1979: State Commandant, Maryland Marine Corps League

· 1993-1994: All State Post Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars (Florida)

· 1995: District Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars

· Two years: National Aide-de-Camp, Veterans of Foreign Wars; served on the National Scouting Committee

· 2006: 1st Vice President, Military Officers Association; Director, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Foundation; Chairman, Charter EOD Memorial Committee

· Multiple years: 3rd, 2nd, 1st, Senior, and State Commandant of the Florida Disabled American Veterans

· 2008: First Chairman of the Florida Veterans Foundation (created by the Florida Legislature)

· Ongoing: Senior Vice Commander, Florida Purple Heart Chapter; State Service Officer

Major Haynes was also the driving force behind the EOD Memorial Wall located at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. According to the EOD website, the memorial “honors EOD technicians who gave their lives in the performance of their duties. The names on the wall date back to the formation of EOD in World War II.” Every year on the first Saturday in May, the EOD Memorial Ceremony is held to commemorate fallen EOD technicians and recognize the legacy of their service and sacrifice.

Recognition and Honors

Major Haynes’s contributions did not go unnoticed. Over the years, he received numerous honors and recognitions:

· 2012: Selected as Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade in Tallahassee

· 2013: Inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame

· 2013: Recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who as Executive of the Year representing the veterans services industry

· 2017: Received the Governor’s Medal of Merit from Governor Rick Scott

· 2018: Selected by Governor Scott to serve as Florida’s official representative at the White House signing ceremony for the VA Mission Act of 2018 — a landmark piece of legislation that brought much-needed reform to the Veterans Administration

The VA Mission Act signing was a nationally televised event, and Major Haynes had the opportunity to meet with several high-ranking federal officials, including former Vice President Mike Pence. The Major’s advocacy had been instrumental in building support for the legislation, which improved veterans’ access to healthcare and streamlined the claims process.

In March 2022, Major Haynes received the Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). He learned of the honor through a letter from Governor Ron DeSantis, who wrote: “Your courage is appreciated. On behalf of all Floridians, let me thank you for your service.” Governor DeSantis declared March 9, 2022, as “Major John L. Haynes Day” for the state of Florida.

The award was presented by General James F. Hartsell, USMC (Ret.), and Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. In his presentation speech, General Hartsell remarked with a smile: “Major Haynes has failed only one time in his life. That was when he tried to join the USMC at the age of 13.”

A Legacy Written in Law

Major John Leroy Haynes passed away peacefully in his Monticello home on November 14, 2023, at age 93. But his legacy was only beginning to take shape.

In 2024, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1329, which officially established and named the state’s veteran oral history initiative as the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program. The program, created within the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, collects, preserves, and shares the firsthand stories of Florida veterans to ensure their sacrifices are remembered by future generations.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Danny Burgess and Senator Jay Collins. Senator Burgess explained the motivation behind the legislation: “When I led the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs under Governor DeSantis, I tried to find Florida D-Day veterans to help us commemorate the 75th anniversary, but it was nearly impossible. That’s when I first started thinking about how we could preserve the memory of our state’s heroes before it is too late and the opportunity to do so is gone forever. Creating the Florida Veterans’ History Program will ensure that we remember the stories, impart the courage, and honor the service of Florida’s veterans. Having the opportunity to not only help establish this program, but to name it after one of Florida’s greatest heroes, like Major Haynes, is truly an honor.”

The program is codified in Florida Statutes § 265.8021 and allows veterans of all ranks and branches to participate by scheduling oral history interviews or submitting written accounts, letters, diaries, and photographs. These stories are featured on the “Stories from Florida’s Heroes” website and the Florida Department of State’s “Unsealed Podcast.”

Also in 2024, a section of State Road 59 in Jefferson County was dedicated as the Major John Leroy Haynes Memorial Highway. The proclamation was approved by the Florida Legislature and signed by Governor DeSantis. In 2025, signs were erected along the route near Lloyd, Florida, ensuring that drivers would see the Major’s name and be reminded of his contributions to the state and nation.

The Major John Leroy Haynes Sr. Commanders Coalition

The renaming of the Commanders Coalition as the Major John Leroy Haynes Sr. Commanders Coalition represents the culmination of these honors — and perhaps the most fitting tribute of all.

The coalition is a key initiative that fosters collaboration between state agencies and military installation leaders across Florida’s extensive defense network. The state is home to numerous major military installations, including MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa — headquarters of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which is responsible for directing special operations across all branches of the armed forces.

The coalition’s objectives include:

· Enhancing collaboration between Florida’s executive branch and installation commanders to align state efforts with military needs

· Strategic planning to ensure operational readiness for the nation

· Infrastructure support to maintain and improve military facilities

· Strengthening the economic impact of the military in Florida

· Supporting military families through initiatives like those facilitated by Select Florida

Florida has long prided itself on being one of the most military-friendly states in the nation, and the coalition plays a crucial role in maintaining that status. By bringing together base commanders, state officials, and community leaders, the coalition ensures that Florida’s military installations have the resources and support they need to accomplish their missions.

Renaming the coalition after Major Haynes sends a powerful message about the values it represents. Major Haynes spent his entire life building bridges — between military and civilian communities, between veterans and the resources they needed, between the sacrifices of the past and the responsibilities of the present. The coalition’s mission mirrors his life’s work.

“Major Haynes understood that supporting our military isn’t just about funding and infrastructure,” said a coalition member who worked with the Major on veterans’ issues. “It’s about relationships. It’s about showing up. It’s about making sure that every service member and every veteran knows that their sacrifice matters. That’s what this coalition does, and that’s what Major Haynes did every single day.”

The Impact on Florida's Veteran Community

For Florida’s veteran community, the renaming of the coalition is deeply meaningful. Major Haynes was one of their own — a man who had walked in their boots, who understood their struggles, and who never stopped fighting for them.

John Haynes Jr., the Major’s son and co-founder of the Sentinel newspaper, has received countless messages from veterans and family members his father helped over the years. One letter, which he has never forgotten, came from a veteran who said he had been contemplating suicide before coming across a copy of the Sentinel and reading his father’s veterans affairs column. The information in that column gave him hope and direction.

“That’s who my father was,” John Jr. said. “He didn’t just help veterans fill out paperwork. He gave them hope. He gave them dignity. He reminded them that their service mattered and that they weren’t alone.”

The Major’s daughter, Susan Carabello, who served as the Sentinel’s Wellness Correspondent and is the widow of a 100% disabled veteran, worked alongside her father for many years advocating for veterans. In the obituary she wrote for her father, she described him as representing “the epitome of selfless service to his country and fellow citizens.”

“At age 93, he continued participation in 11 military service organizations and remained active assisting veterans and military widows in obtaining their disability benefits,” she wrote. “His work also included visiting the gravesites of fallen heroes with a group of retired veteran friends.”

The renaming of the coalition ensures that Major Haynes’s example will continue to inspire future generations of advocates and service members. It institutionalizes his values at the highest levels of state-military collaboration.

A Marine to the End

Those who knew Major Haynes often remarked on his unwavering commitment to the Marine Corps motto: “Semper Fidelis” — always faithful. He was faithful to his country, faithful to his fellow Marines, faithful to his family, and faithful to his principles.

Even in his final years, the Major remained active and engaged. He attended veterans’ events, conducted military funerals, and continued to help veterans navigate the VA system. He never sought recognition for his work; he simply believed it was his duty.

When he passed away in November 2023, his family requested that donations be made in his name to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 492. A visitation was held at Culley’s Meadow Wood Funeral Home in Tallahassee, followed by a graveside service at Tallahassee National Cemetery, where he was laid to rest with full military honors.

In the months that followed, as the state moved forward with naming the veterans’ history program and the memorial highway in his honor, and now with the renaming of the Commanders Coalition, it became clear that Major Haynes’s influence would endure far beyond his lifetime.

Conclusion: A Life That Defined Service

Major John Leroy Haynes Sr. enlisted in the Marine Corps as a 15-year-old boy who couldn’t wait to serve his country. He retired 30 years later as a decorated war hero and then he spent nearly 50 more years serving his fellow veterans with the same dedication and courage he had shown on the battlefield.

The renaming of the Commanders Coalition as the Major John Leroy Haynes Sr. Commander Coalition is more than a tribute to one man’s extraordinary life. It is a statement of values — a declaration that service, sacrifice, and compassion are the foundations upon which strong military-civilian partnerships are built.

It is a reminder that true leadership isn’t about rank or recognition, but about showing up for others, day after day, year after year, even when no one is watching.

It is a promise that Florida will never forget the men and women who have defended our freedom, and that we will continue to support them and their families with the same faithfulness they showed to us.

Major Haynes once said that he would do it all over again — that he could never have asked for a better career. But for the thousands of veterans he helped, for the state that honored him, and for the nation he served, it is we who could never have asked for a better Marine, a better advocate, or a better example of what it means to live a life of service.

The Major John Leroy Haynes Sr. Commanders Coalition will carry his name into the future, ensuring that his legacy of “service after sacrifice” continues to inspire collaboration, support, and unwavering commitment to Florida’s military community.

Veterans’ benefits are not charity. This is the cost of war.

Congratulations Susie Caplowe from TVLC

FSU Veteran Entreprenuership Program

I am reaching out to let you know about two upcoming free programs for military members and their families.

Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship is hosting two certificate programs designed to help participants start or grow their businesses. Please see the attached flyers for additional details.

We will also be holding an information session on Monday, March 23, in Tallahassee.

One program will take place in Tallahassee, and the other will be held in Panama City.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could share this information with your members or networks who may be interested.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

Jaymee

Jaymee Spannring, MBA, PMP, PMI-CPMAI

Program Manager

Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship

Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship

Florida State University

Ritaann’s Incredible Journey Hitting the Road for BI Awareness Month

I was honored to be a guest on In a Flash with Kim Justus this week to kick off March Brain Injury Awareness Month!

Denny Armington the president of Brain Injury Florida joined us in the two hour discussion that covered my mission and current fundraiser for BIF. All donations raised BIF will earmark to be used for our Florida TBI Veterans. We covered a lot and the time went by quickly!

The two hour conversation can be listened to anytime on Spreaker. You can pause and resume the podcast to listen at your convenience.

Please visit Brain Injury Florida (braininjuryfl.org) and scroll down to “Recent News” to read about my upcoming TBI veteran mission.

Thank you for listening and for considering a donation to help our TBI Florida veterans!

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ritaann-s-incredible-journey-hitting-the-road-for-bi-awareness-month--70480571

Blessings!
Ritaann

Greetings, Team

Thursday afternoon, 3/12/26: Our TVLC Legal Clinic at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13, this week included a team of 26 Volunteers again (including 7 attys).

20 Veterans and family came in, plus we assisted several others by phone, in and out of state; Veterans volunteered with set up, intakes, etc. even though their court-ordered community service requirements have already been completed (Khalid and Charles). Hats off to Jim Piche, who again repaired and donated another bike to a Vet Ct Veteran to enable him to attend VA and other obligations from the Veteran Treatment Court. FIVE FSU law students helped again with intakes and hosting participants.

Kudo’s again to TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week-- Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Sam Adams, Gregory Howard, and Eddie McMillian, Veteran volunteers who delivered the load of food and drinks again Wednesday from Quincy to 4 locations around Tallahassee.

NEW VETERANS BENEFITS PASSED THE LEGISLATURE: Dental Benefits were expanded (HB 253), Veteran Housing subsidies were added when moving is delayed (SB 1602), among several Veterans bills on their way to the Governor. This week was WEEK NINE, officially the final week of this 2026 Legislative session; but since the appropriations process hasn’t been worked out as scheduled, the session did not finalize the 26-27 Florida budget on time. Before regular session ended, though, more than a dozen Veteran-related bills were passed in one or both chambers in the usual Bipartisan co-operation, including the reform bill by Gen. Patt Maney strengthening the 34 Veteran Courts around the state! (HB 199). See photo of VFW Commander Frank Roycraft, one of dozens of Veterans who spent time helping legislators understand the effects of proposed legislation on Veterans and their families this year. Also See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now at least 64 Veteran-related bills which were pending this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we updated daily during the session. Some legislation passed may present potential harm to some Veterans if signed by the Governor; other bills fortunately died on the floor of one or the other chamber as the session ended yesterday.

Veterans Treatment Court Monday celebrated several Veterans who advanced to their next phase, but two Veterans were removed from the program for consistent non-compliance over the last year or more. They now return to the regular criminal docket. Your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E) will be Monday, March 23, 3 pm, and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

Donations to TVLC from various events in recent months and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

What else?

Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091,
Tallahassee, Fl
32302,
850/ 570-1967

FINAL SALUTE – FLORIDA NATIONAL CEMETERY

Next Final Salute is March 25, 2026 – Held Each quarter the Florida National Cemetery (TALLAHASSEE) recognizes At Final Salute military honors are given to those veterans previously interred at the Tallahassee National Cemetery because when they passed, they were unclaimed, they were unaccompanied at the time of interment, or were interred without military honors. Military honors include the reading of each veteran’s name, ringing of the bell, a rifle salute, the playing of taps, and the folding of the American flag. The American flag is presented on behalf of unclaimed veterans and to family when present.

Commanders Coalition Outpost 1

Through our mutual friend, Ritaann Schultz, we were asked to send you information about the new AMVETS Veteran Brain Injury Initiative. A motion was made and passed to form this as a committee under the Department of Florida during the recent state convention.

The purpose of this program is to address the unique challenges faced by Florida’s veterans who live with acquired or traumatic brain injuries (ABI/TBI). Florida is home to over 1.37 million veterans (2023 FDVA data), with 67% of military personnel experiencing at least one TBI (BIAA), meaning nearly 924,000 Florida veterans may be living with lasting brain injury effects.

We look to accomplish our goals by working with the existing statewide network of support, education, advocacy, and services to empower veterans with brain injuries to live with dignity, independence, and opportunity.

To date, we have made contact with suppliers of alternative treatments, including VieLight Therapy, equine therapy, and fishing therapy. We are also working to find sources for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

We have also submitted to Florida Legislatures various legislation to present to the Florida House and Senate. Unfortunately, this was done too late for the current session.

We participated in a Resource Fair at the Tampa VA Hospital in conjunction with March being Brain Injury Awareness Month.

Finally, in order to accomplish the goals, we are soliciting funds from not only State AMVETS, but also other veterans groups. These include VFW, American Legion, and DAV.

For your convenience, attached you will find the original proposal submitted to the Executive Board of FL AMVETS.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself.

--

Yours in Service,

Timothy J Sorady

Chairman, Veterans Brain Injury Initiative

AMVETS, Department of Florida

amvetsflveteranbii@/gmail.com

Advocating Together for Florida’s Veterans

Tuesday March 3rd, the The American Legion Department of Florida joined forces with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida for a productive joint meeting with U.S. Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott.

Our conversations highlighted the importance of the Richard Star Act and addressed critical mental health issues impacting our veterans and their families. Both offices were gracious with their time, and their teams took copious notes as we shared the real concerns and needs from those we proudly serve.

Department Commander Moore and Department Commander Hice extend their sincere appreciation to the teams who worked diligently behind the scenes to coordinate these important meetings.

When veterans organizations stand united, our voice is stronger — and Florida’s veterans are better served.
~Source Social Media

What is the Major Richard Star Act?

Here’s something most Americans don’t realize.

A service member can:
• Complete 20 years
• Retire from the military
• Go work as a defense contractor
• Earn a paycheck
• Collect full military retirement
• And collect VA disability at the same time, and then retire as a contractor and then eventually draw social security.

That’s allowed under current law.

But if another service member:
• Serves 18 years
• Deploys to combat
• Gets severely injured
• Is medically retired before reaching 20 years

The government tells them, you can only have your VA disability.

So the person who is close to 20 years and obviously had a commitment to retiring, was injured because they went to war, is punished while the person who makes it to 20 years and then works as a contractor can collect everything even though they might not have stepped into a combat zone.

Meanwhile, Congress tells us it’s “too expensive,” while members of Congress walk out of office worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.

That’s why we need the Major Richard Star Act. It would allow disabled veterans to collect their retirement early and also their VA benefits.
~Source USMC Veteran Tori Branum

Fleet Reserve Association Branch 34 will be leading the May meeting. We still need a VSO to lead the April meeting.

Greetings, Team

Forty-some participants met at the Legion Wednesday for the monthly Commanders Coalition meeting, and compared dates and opportunities for dozens of upcoming Veteran-related events coming up these next couple of months. Ask your respective representative to the Coalition for more specifics—this is a busy spring for Veterans around the region! That includes THIS TUESDAY’S VETERAN LUNCHEON at the National Guard Armory 11:30 am (“2d Tuesday”) which will again welcome a hundred or so Veterans; so if you haven’t enjoyed that opportunity yet, ……. (donations accepted, 1225 Easterwood Drive).

Our TVLC Legal Clinic (at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13, this week included a team of 26 Volunteers (including 8 attys) Thursday afternoon, 3/5/26.

19 Veterans and family came in, plus we assisted others by phone; Veterans volunteered with set up, intakes, etc. even though their court-ordered community service requirements have already been completed. (Khalid, Charles, Gregory, Leonard). FIVE FSU law students helped with intakes and hosting participants. Thanks to Susie Caplowe for tabling for TVLC at the pro bono recruitment event at FSU’s College of Law Thursday (and Congrats to her for being recognized as one of the “25 Women You Need to Know” this year).

Kudo’s again to Veteran volunteers (TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week) Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Sam Adams, David Martinez, Leonard Bell, Gregory Howard, and Eddie McMillian, who delivered the load of food and drinks again Wednesday from Quincy to various locations around Tallahassee.

This week is WEEK NINE, officially the final week of this 2026 Legislative session; but since the appropriations process hasn’t been worked out as scheduled, the session will not be finalizing the 26-27 Florida budget on time. During these last two weeks, though, more than a dozen Veteran-related bills were passed in one or both chambers in the usual Bipartisan co-operation, including the reform bill by Gen. Patt Maney strengthening the 34 Veteran Courts around the state! Several Veterans bills are on their way to the Governor. See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now nearly 60 Veteran-related bills pending this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we update daily.

Your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E) will be Monday, March 9, 3 pm, and maybe you will consider becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

One special need: The number of issues with the VA is outstripping our local resources to keep up with the complications, new claims, and VA delays; so, any other attorneys wanting to join our “VA Law team,” we need you, and have training and national legal resources available to bring you into the fray. Were you a JAG? Have you helped with Social Security or other federal agencies that you already have a headstart on picking up VA law?

Donations to TVLC from various events in recent months and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

What else?

Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com

PO Box 11091,
Tallahassee, Fl 32302,
850/ 570-1967

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month 🧠

—whether you have $5 or $5,000,000 it’s not too late to support this Navy Vet

ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED OUR 2026 ANNUAL T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER 👕

Funnies from the Front

When you’re on mission….sometimes you just get bored. 😂

March 4, 2026, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes

Attendees: Dennis Hall, John Folsom, Gordon Lightfoot, Ritaann Schultz, Melissa Sheridan, Andrew (Andy) Santa-Pinter, Chuck Howell, Eric Smith, Courtney Thomas, Marc Dickieson, Tony Minichiello, Dan Hendrickson, Amy Yarusso, Amanda Daugherty, Tom Napier, Richard Duley, Liz Crawford, Frank Roycraft, Beverly Shirley, Valencia Scott, Kenny Nwoko, Brooklyn Enders, L J Stuckey, Fred Ingley, Gail Ernst, Craig Benner, Tom Carney, Alex “Butch” Topicz, Earnest Reed, Johnnie Roberts, Michael Terhune, Tina Caldwell, Sharon Weeden, Donna Washington, Berline Belizaire, Mary LaBatt, Michael Mann, Eric Evans, and Marianne Trussell.

Dennis Hall led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meeting and led a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. Dennis asked Ernie Reed to deliver an opening prayer. He welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, to keep it brief and to keep it veteran business only, no personal business, politics, or personal attacks. He then handed the microphone to Marc Dickieson to begin.

Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. TheMarine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Elks Lodge at 6:00 pm. A monthly fundraiser on the first Saturday of the month (this Saturday) is held at the Ace Hardware in Killearn where Krispy Kreme donuts aresold. Stop by and please buy donuts.

Melissa Sheridan, Administrative Officer, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Next Final Salute is March 25, 2026 at 3 pm. Thank you for your support of the Tallahassee National Cemetery. She introduced Mr. Santa-Pinter by name only.

Andrew (Andy) R. Santa-Pinter, Director, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Introduced himself and his last position. He goes by Andy.

Kenny Nwoko, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. No report.

Brooklyn Enders, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. Works with employees. Flyers were made available for Find a Job Friday last month and for Ready, Set, Work.

L. J. Stuckey, Adjutant, American Legion Post 502 in Bainbridge, Retired Veteran. Here to take advantage of good information. There will be a meet and greet this Thursday from 4:30-8:30. The City of Bainbridge will present River Day on March 14. Call her for more information 505-651-6334.

Earnest Reed, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Branch 34. FRA represents the Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard. We all want to thank Gordon Lightfoot for his tireless efforts.

Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Echoes Ernie’s comments – thank you Gordon.

Johnnie Roberts. No report.

Michael Terhune, Team Guardian, Inc. Free transport – it’s a Big Mission. He and Team Guardian work a lot with the Tallahassee National Cemetery and local funeral homes. This will be 25 years since 9.11 happened. The 9.11 Memorial is at the American Red Cross at 1115 Easterwood Drive; it consists of, among other things, a steel beam from the tower and the name of every person lost. He brought a very large rolled up “thing” with lots of photographs on it showing the memorial. Butch Topicz held it up and showed it to everyone. (Gordon Lightfoot interjected that the Beam Memorial has been added to the list of stops for school kids.) Flyers were provided.

Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.

Tina Caldwell, Right at Home. Veteran preferred provider that most veterans do not know about. Get the word out about VA benefits. Two hours to 24 hourservices. Easy form to fill out to qualify.

Sharon Weeden, Owner, Right at Home. VA preferred provider for in home care. No co-pay. Veterans have no idea of VA benefits available.

Donna Washington, Tallahassee VA Clinic. No report.

Courney Thomas, Office of the Mayor, Tallahassee. No report.

Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) in February performed 20 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. During the month of February approximately 425 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,520 interments thru the end of February 2026 since the cemetery opened in 2015.

Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard. No report.

Richard Duley, Disabled American Veterans. No report.

Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. No report. Wife, Linda, attended also.

Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776, American Legion Post 13, Fleet Reserve Association. AmVets will be having its 16^th Annual Golf Tournament (Ray House) on April 27. There were 100 players last year; so sign up early. It’s a great fundraiser. Brochures were made available. He is working on the Fleet Reserve Monument to be built at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). It’s a beautiful monument.

Ritaann Schultz, Women Veterans Unite, American Legion Post 340. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. Floridians are lucky as there is a brain injury center in Tampa which is 1 of only 5 in the nation. There will be “doings” going on all month in March 2026. She thanked Ed Hood for sending out to Coalition members a write up about her efforts. She will be doing a cycling ride on March 24 and raising pledges for her ride for brain injury. She has been assured that all pledges she raises will benefit Florida veterans.

Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Save the Date - June 12 - for Veteran Recognition. Speaker is the lined up and tables will be available for veterans/VSOs.

Tom Napier, Vice President, Honor Flight. The next Honor Flight will be on April 18. Only 14 or 15 veteran seats are left. Come on veterans and apply. Go to the web page to apply: honorflighttallahassee.org There was a nice turnout for the Chili Cookoff and over $4,000 was raised for Honor Flight.

Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Juan Gonzalez is in another meeting and will stop by with the Commanders Coalition t-shirts. The veterans’ graduation consisted of 6 veterans. Veterans still need legal and other assistance. Different agencies show up each week to offer assistance. Mentors are badly needed. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow (every Thursday) from 3-5 pm. Walk ins are welcome. 15-20 bills are pending; about 12 are ready to pass. A plot has been donated to the TVLC worth $2000 in the Memory Gardens, Garden of Valor. If interested, see Dan. The plot is next to a WWII veteran. Susie Caplowe is no here because she is signing up voters. She was recently named as one of the “25 Women You Need To Know.” See the full article in the online version of today’s Tallahassee Democrat. Juan showed up toward the end of the meeting with the t-shirts.

Valencia Scott, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. Akin Akinyemi sends his regrets; he thanks all of you. They are always available to help with Property Tax exemptions and other veteran issues. Not only were they at the Chili Cookoff on February 21. But they won First Place. The chili was made by the wife of a Marine.

Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.

Amber Yarusso, Field Representative, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. No report.

Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Call if you need help. The office is open to all Monday thru Thursday; on Fridays they are out in the district. They are here until the end of the year.

Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. Dream Flights is free and will take place this year probably in April. There are 7 spots left; talk to your friends about Dream lights. Brochures were provided that contained a QR ”Scan Here” logo and a website to donate.

Fred Ingley, MOAA. No report.

Gail Ernst, MOAA, American Legion. No report.

Beverly Shirley, Community Representative, Mission BBQ. Flyers were made available for “FREE CHOW FOR VIETNAM VETS” on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29. Free Sandwich for Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam Era Veterans. Reach out to her if you need help.

Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. He is still Commander for another year. First Responder Awards will be at the Moose Lodge. Veterans are still looking for a loop hole to a gaming bill.

Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion. Next meeting is in April 30; the fifth Thursday of the month. Recruiting is always ongoing.

Tom Carney, Bud West Chapter, Air & Space Force Association. The next meeting of the Association will be on Thursday, April 30 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Moose Lodge.

Eric Evans, Florida Cares. Things are going along well building ramps and half steps in Wakulla, Leon, and Gadsden counties. Veterans and others are eligible.

John Folsom, American Lesion Post 13. Thanks to all of you. The America Legion Memorial Day Ceremony is Monday at 11 am.

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. Next Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the menu will consist of chicken and rice, green beans, salad, and Peach Betty. A donation is accepted. Dennisalso mentioned that Roxann Dressel (American Legion District 2 Commander) asked him to remind members to check their membership and to timely renew. He also mentioned that the 4^th Thursday of every month is the AL Post 13 social andthat Ritaann would be riding alone and not with a group of bicyclists. He gave details of the Memorial Day Ceremony, which is Monday, May 25 at 11 am at Oakland Cemetery, 838 N Bronough St. Dan Hendrickson was voted Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations! Liz Crawford will host in April and the FRA will host in May.

Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. The next Quarterly Support Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5 pm at the Administration Building Conference Room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. She profusely thanked Melissa Sheridan for all of her hard work and dedication to the Tallahassee National Cemetery and announcing the date of Final Salute, March 25 at 3 pm. Please attend - all of you who can. She also hopes Andy stays a long time.

Dennis Hall asked John Folsom to end the meeting with a prayer and Dennis led a salute to the American Flag.

The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 1,2026, at 10 am, 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303 beside Lake Ella.