April 2026 Meeting Minutes
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
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 16th 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 16th 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 12thtrip. 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.
