MOAA | Gold Star Spouses | AFA | AMVETS | Honor Flight | Rudisill/Perkins Update
Weekly Report 🎖️
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.
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 16th 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
