February 2026 Meeting Minutes
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
February 4, 2026, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Drive, Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Gordon Lightfoot, Paula Hubert, Ritaann Schultz, John Folsom, Derrich Sykes, Dennis Hall, Sean Golder, Doug Ingram, Melissa Seridan, Roberto Pizzaro, Nell Hewitt, Chuck Howell, Courtney Thomas, Muriel Kweyama, Marc Dickieson, Tony Minichiello, Dan Hendrickson, Amanda Daugherty, Cindy Myers, David Wilson, Tom McCluskey, Juan Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Grimes, Tom Napier, Liz Crawford, Frank Roycraft, Valencia Scott, Brooklyn Enders, L J Stuckey, Michael Blain, Fred Ingley, Gail Ernst, Craig Benner, Tom Carney, Charles LeCroy, Berline Belizaire, Mary LaBatt, Grant Kimball, Debbie Mann, Michael Mann, Samantha Youngren (did not sign in), and Marianne Trussell.
Gordon Lightfoot 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. Gordon asked John Folsom 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 Derrich Sykes to begin (who was sitting on the right side of the room).
Derrich Sykes, Big Bend Hospice. We provide help. Always recruiting.
Roberto Pizzaro, Interim Director at Tallahassee National Cemetery and Director of Florida National. New Director has been hired, Andrew Santa-Pinter, from Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado. Due to weather in Colorado his arrival date is undetermined.
Melissa Sheridan, Administrative Officer, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Next Final Salute is March 25, 2026.
Brooklyn Enders, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. Flyers were made available for Find a Job Friday (February 13 in Leon County) and for Ready, Set, Work.
Muriel Kweyama, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. No report.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.
L. J. Stuckey, Adjutant, American Legion Post 502 in Bainbridge, Retired Veteran. Here to take advantage of good information. American Legion Post 502 will be holding a ceremony on March 6 at 6:00 celebrating 50 years of service. Call her for more information 505-651-6334.
Nell Hewitt, Vice President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. The Auxiliary will thank veterans with Valentines and snacks. This Friday and Saturday the Good Shepherd Catholic Church will have its garage sale. At noon on Saturday when the sale ends the Auxiliary will be entitled to all items not sold.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Courney Thomas, Office of the Mayor, Tallahassee. No report.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) in January performed 15 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. During the month of January approximately 232 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,500 interments thru the end of January since the cemetery opened in 2015.
Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite. 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. There will be “doings” going on all month in March 2026. In March there will be a press release, she is now thru her “ride” (as a part of the cycling event on March 24) raising pledges for her ride for brain injury. She has been assured that all pledges she raises will benefit Florida veterans.
Doug Ingram, Blinded Veterans Association. Working to get the word out that benefits are available from VA that include skills training for the blind and blinded. Listen on the radio to the Bill and Doug Show – he is the Doug part.
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, February 10, 2026, the menu will consist of pasta with meat sauce, Italian bread, salad bar, and Peach Betty. Donations are accepted. The Department Commander will be at the Capitol all week. The American Legion District 2 meeting will be in Marianna at the American Legion Post at 10 Eastern time and 9 Central time.
Sean Golder, Commander, District 2, VFW Post 4538, State Legislative Chairman. There are a number of bills pending; the veterans court is progressing well. The Robert Wise Chili Cookoff is February 21 from 12 noon till ?? at the National Guard Armory; they decided to redo their roof. In case of bad weather, the cookoff will be moved inside. Call him at 850-210-2586. Flyers were available.
Grant Kimball, DAV; Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home; Chair, N. Florida S. Georgia Veteran Coalition; Veteran. No report.
Tom McCluskey, American Legion Post 13. No report.
Tony Minichiello, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. March 6-8 is the Walk for Veterans from the American Legion to Jacksonville.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. No report.
Tom Napier, Vice President, Honor Flight. The next Honor Flight will be on April 18 (#14). Only one half full. Come on veterans and apply. 44 guardians so far. Go to the web page to apply. honorflighttallahassee.org
David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Forces Association. Flyers were made available regarding the visitation at the SouthSide Cemetery of those interred veterans who died in Vietnam on Sunday, March 1 at 4 pm. Everyone is welcome; bring young children.
Cindy Myers, Attorney, Legal Services of North Florida. Omar has left; she now has an assistant.
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. There are currently 55 Bills. The veterans’ treatment court meets this Monday, February 9 at 3 pm at the courthouse. There will be a great the following Monday. 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.
Valencia Scott, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office. Akin Akinyemi sends his regrets; he is in another meeting. They are always available to help with Property Tax exemptions and other veteran issues. The office is here to help. Please contact them. They will be at the Chili Cookoff on February 21.
Juan Gonzalez, Vice Commander, Commanders Coalition. The deadline to purchase Coalition shirts is February 20. Shirts cost $25. He presented an award to John Folsom on behalf of Ed Hood for John’s vision in starting the now “Commanders Coalition”.
Michael Blain, American Red Cross. Flyers were made available relating to each of the three announcements. Monday, February 20 at 11 am is the free “Resiliency Workshop: Effective Communications”. Wednesday, February 25 at 1 pm is the free “Resiliency Workshop: Stress Solutions” in partnership with AARP. Registration for both is required. Red Cross International in conjunction with the American Red Cross provides people with help finding missing family members.
Samantha Youngren, SPO Armed Forces Regional Program Manager. (did not sign in)
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department. The Tallahassee Marathon will be held on February 8, 2026. Be aware of road closures.
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.
Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. Dream Flights will take place this year probably in April. She is also Director of Night to Shine for people with disabilities. It is on Friday, February 13, from 6-9 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church, 2351 Mahan Drive. Volunteers are needed; especially volunteers to be escorts/buddies the night of the event. Buddies must be 18 years old or older. Go to website: nighttoshinetallahassee.com
Fred Ingley, MOAA. Last day to register for MOAA social is February 10.
Gail Ernst, MOAA. It’s time to sign up for our Monday, February 16 MOAA social.
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
Please register online using this link. Cutoff is Tuesday, 10 February.
Planned social events for the remainder of the year are as follows:
April 20 – with speaker
June 15 – with speaker
September 21 – with speaker
December 4 – Holiday Social
We look forward to seeing everyone.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. Post is still working on the First Responders awards. He asks that all veterans show up for Veteran Bills. Post 4408 is working on its building; materials and labor have been donated.
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. Camp Gordon Johnston has its celebration the 2nd week of March; the parade is the 2nd Saturday in March. Contact the Crawfordville Lions Club if you are interested in setting up a booth or otherwise interested in the Crawfordville St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 21.
Charles LeCroy, Past Commander of American Legion Post 13. Thanks to you it continues to get better. Get involved. Veteran families are left behind.
Debra Mann, President, District 2, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13, DAV.
72 stuffed bears and other animals were donated by the Auxiliary to First Responders to give to children. The District Constitutional Conference will be in April or May 2026. The 2nd week of February is Veteran Week and the Auxiliary Units will be handing out Valentines at their local VA Clinics to veterans. District 2 currently has reached its membership goal of 100% with 325 members.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion. Met last Thursday and elected officers Members also attended the Flag Retirement. Recruiting is always ongoing.
Tom Carney, Bud West Chapter, Air & Space Force Association. The state winter meeting of the Association will be held (via Zoom only) on Saturday, February 21 from 9 am till 12 noon.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13. Thank you, Ed Hood. 10 years ago I started the Commanders Coalition with 5 people. Ed Hood grew it!
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776, American Legion Post 13, Fleet Reserve Association. AmVets will hold a planning meeting for its April 27 Golf Tournament. He is working on the Fleet Reserve Monument to be built at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). It’s a beautiful monument. There will be a National Guard monument also. Please walk the Memorial Walk at the TNC it is beautiful.
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.
Gordon Lightfoot asked Dennis Hall to end the meeting with a prayer and Gordon led a salute to the American Flag.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 10 am at 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303 beside Lake Ella.