August 2026 Meeting Minutes 📝
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – August 5, 2026, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Frank Roycraft, John Folsom, Chris Wilson, Marc Dickieson, Craig Benner, Dan Hendrickson, Susie Caplowe, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Carney, Tom Napier, Fred Ingley, Gail Ernst, Tony Minchello (and wife Linda), David Wilson, Kaitlyn Grimes, Alex “Butch” Topicz, Renae Lane, Melissa Sheridan, Rob Winchester, Beverly Shirley, Bill Ferris, Mary LaBatt, Amanda Daughtry, Ben Parsons, Cindy Myers, Tiffany Hibbard, Charles LeCroy, Akim Akinyemi, Andy Janacek, Ritaann Schultz, Paula Hubert, Dennis Hall, Luke Murphy, and Marianne Trussell.
Frank Roycraft led the attendees in the Pledge to the American Flag and a salute to the American Flag to open the meeting. Frank 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. Frank asked Tom Carney to deliver an opening prayer. Frank then handed the microphone to Craig Benner to begin the meeting.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Thank you everyone for making the event at DHSMV a success.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Elks Lodge on Magnolia at 6:00 pm. The Marine Corps League is fundraising for scholarships. See him; $3 each or 2 for $5.
Tom Napier, Honor Flight. There will be an Antique Car Show on Saturday, October 17, from 9 am to 2 pm (registration starts at 8:30) at the Moose Lodge on Capital Circle NE. There will be all sorts of door prizes and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit Honor Flight. Honor Fight will take off again in April 2027; no date yet but mark your calendars for April 2027.
Tom Carney, Bud West, Air & Space Forces Association Chapter 419. Chiles High School is ready to be the first Jr. ROTC Air & Space Forces Association in Florida. Congratulations!
David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Forces Association. Congratulations! Chiles High School – they may be the first in the nation!
Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser. Thanks to all of you!
Andy Janacek, Leon County Property Appraiser Akin Akinyemi. TRIM notices will be mailed in about two weeks. 1,287 veterans received full waivers and 1,566 veterans have received partial waivers for 2026 through their service! They are here to help with Property Tax exemptions and other veteran issues.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776, American Legion Post 13, Fleet Reserve Association. Working on the November Turkey Shoot; details to follow. He wrote an article on Final Salute that appeared in the Democrat on Monday, and the Major Morale newspaper for August, and will appear in the AmVets newsletter. Be forewarned to listen to your wife and stay off of ladders. He did neither and is lucky to be here to talk about it.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department, Community Relations. Provided handouts about Cool Down the 200th anniversary spectacular this Saturday, August 8, from 11 am to 2 pm. It’s a free community water day with free snow cones, food, giveaways, etc. Beverly Shirley, community representative of Mission BBQ says hello and left cookies for everyone and flyers about the 9/11 Mission BBQ Event at noon in Tallahassee at which there will be live singing of the National Anthem and $2 of every red cup sold goes to a not for profit.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Later this month CVMA will release flyers and rules regarding the writing contest for grades 7-12.
Renae Lane, a veteran and wife of a veteran who just moved here; CVMA. She is the Mental Health Provider Nurse at the Clinic and supports Honor Flight and the 9/11 event.
Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. She is still here and a case worker. Call if you need help.
Ben Parsons, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. No report.
Luke Murphy, American Legion Post 13, VFW. No report.
Tony Minichiello, (and wife Linda) American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Visit the Freedom Truck December 4-6; flyers available. Still putting things together for bricks for heroes. See him for details.
Fred Ingley, MOAA. No report.
Gail Ernst, MOAA. No report.
Charles LeCroy, Past Commander Post 13. Thanks to all of you. Get involved. Keep On Keepin’ On. Several attendees wore their “Keep On” t-shirts.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Rob Winchester, Camp Gordon Johnston. He arrived early but could not stay for the meeting. Multi-folded, color flyers and poster boards were made available for the Freedom Truck that is part of the 250th birthday celebration. Camp Gordon Johnston will host the Freedom Truck on December 4-6, 2026.
Chris Wilson, Major Morale. No Report.
Beverly Shirley, Community Representative, Mission BBQ. She arrived early and brought chocolate chip cookies and flyers that were made available to all attendees. See Kaitlyn Grimes report.
Cindy Myers, Attorney, Legal Services of North Florida. Introduced her paralegal, Tiffany Hibbard. Cindy works under a grant. Veterans must meet standards to qualify for help with legal issues. She is heading to the St George Correctional Institution as some of them have a veterans wing,
Bill Ferris, CVMA 20-12. No report. Check on veterans.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite (WVU). At the next WVU meeting in August on the 3rd Thursday at 6:30 pm here at Post 13 will be the election of VP and Financial Officer. She attended a one day trip provided by the FAMU Extension Service to an estuary on an island near St George Island that can be reached only by boat. WVU meets on the third Thursday of each month here at the post at 6:30pm. She attended a service at the TNC for a 106 year old veteran.
Ritaann Schultz, Commanders Coalition National Chair, Traumatic Brain Injury, member American Legion Post 340. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. She has been invited to attend the September meeting in Tampa. She will have more to report at the October meeting. There is a new search option available at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. If interested see: https://www.fox13news.com/news/america-250-national-military-monument-now-open-steps-lincoln-memorial?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a6f42d7144974000100ad3d&fbclid=IwZnRzaATcKqZwZG9mAWZkaWQWULsIAC9ZuFmuDX_GDtVrM-8427XhrmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzE3Mzg0NzY0MjY3MDM3MAABHieEfNtgwvCUEef9vGkXHwOoqnvgsr0HBZv9eLvSP96sUQ2K_861m6DsyogK_aem_p7Z0Xgn9aROkEcC6v3ZYwg
Melissa Sheridan, Administrative Officer, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Thank you to everyone for all that you do. Flyers regarding the Day of Service marking the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC) on Saturday 9/12 from 10 am – 12 pm in conjunction with Cary the Load were made available. Pre-registration is required. In September there will also be Saluting the Branches under the auspices of Miller’s Tree Service. On September 18 at 8 pm there will be the POW/MIA Ceremony. The ceremony will be held at Committal Shelter #1 instead of the Administration Building. The next Final Salute will be held on Wednesday, September 30 at 3pm at the TNC. For the next month at the TNC there will be barricades; please drive carefully and pay attention as there will be ongoing work on the irrigation and various areas.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow and every Thursday from 3-5 pm. Walk ins are welcome. August 17 will be graduation at 3pm at the downtown courthouse. During Veterans Week in November on the 12th services will be expanded.
Susan (Susie) Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative, Clinic Volunteer Coordinator. Every Wednesday the TVLC and guys/veterans do a Farmshare to locations in town where veterans live. Things are not dire at Vet Village; they aren’t good but they are not dire.
Dennis Hall, Commander 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 (August 11). Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. On Tuesday, July 14 there will be chicken, greens, corn, a salad bar, and Peach Betty. A donation is accepted.
Thanks to everyone who attended or supported the July 4 doings at Post 13. It was a terrific success! The District 2 Commander, Roxann Dressel, asked him to announce that the District 2 meeting will be held August 8 at 10 am ET at American Legion Post 217, 342 Attapulgus Highway, Quincy.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Veterans cannot exist in silos any more. He thanked Post 13 for having the Coalition meet here.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13. It’s good to be back (at which comment everyone clapped). Twenty-four hour a day pain pre-surgery; post-surgery – no more pain.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. The next Quarterly Support Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 3 pm at the Administration Building Conference Room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery; elections for Treasurer and Vice Chair will be held. Please come and share your nominations or nominate yourself. She thanked Melissa for her tireless efforts and thanked Melissa for her announcements, especially the quarterly Final Salute on September 30 at 3 pm. Please attend!! She also thanked Gordon Lightfoot for his Support for Final Salute through his wonderful articles. On behalf of the Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) they performed 13 interments at the TNC and reported approximately 223 volunteer hours to the Veterans Administration during the month of July. Since the TNC opened the BBHG has performed 1,591 interments as of the end of July.
Frank Roycraft led a salute to the American Flag and asked Tom Carney to provide the closing prayer.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 10 am at American Legion Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303