COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING – November 4, 2026, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Dennis Hall, John Folsom, Bill Ferris, Jan Bates, Frank Roycraft, Marc Dickieson, Berline Belizaire, Shawn Cloud, Omar Canales, Roxann Dressel, Melissa Sheridan, David Wilson, Renae Lane, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Carney, Nell Hewitt, Alex “Butch” Topicz, Chuck Howell, Ritaann Schultz, Paula Hubert, Craig Benner, Alphonso Ash, Fred Ingley, Terry Snyder, Chris Wilson, Kaitlyn Grines, Braxton Carroll, Brooklyn Enders, Amanda Daughtry, Craig Williams, Sonya Pace, Cindy Myers, Michael 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 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 John Folsom to deliver an opening prayer. Dennis introduced Mayor John Daily and handed him the microphone. The Mayor thanked everyone. Dennis then handed the microphone to Bill Ferris to begin the meeting.
Bill Ferris, CVMA 20-12. This Saturday, November 7 will be the CVMA 20-12 Salute to Veterans Dice Run. The Dice Run starts at 9:30 am at the Tallahassee Harley. It ends at the VFW.
Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. The deadline for the Americanism Essay Contest is December 1. Flyers were previously provided. There are still no essays from several counties. Saturday, November 7 will be the CVMA Dice Run starting at 9:30 Tallahassee Harley Davidson. Prizes are between $650 and $250. Donations benefit Team Guardian and Vet Village. Flyers were provided. They are still waiting on Washington, DC approval for the Navy Memorial.
Jan Bates. Has a car that is wheelchair accessible to donate to a veteran. It is a 2012 Honda Odyssey that belonged to her brother who is a veteran. It has an after-market rearview plug-in camera.. Please call her at 850-570-4552. Handouts were provided.
Melissa Sheridan, Administrative Officer, Tallahassee National Cemetery. Thank you to everyone for all that you do. The Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC) will be hosting the Wreaths Across America event on December 19 at 12 noon; attendees should arrive early. The next Quarterly Final Salute will be held on December 30 at 3:00 pm. Attendees are asked to line up in the cortege lane. On November 18 at 10 am the Army will dedicate the Battlefield Cross Monument at the TNC.
Omar Canales, Student Veterans of Tallahassee State College. November 5 (tomorrow) from 9 – 2 student veterans will be at the Success Building at Tallahassee State College; on November 10 from 11:30 – 1 pm there will be a Marine Corps dedication.
Michael Shawn Cloud, Executive Officer, Navy ROTC at FAMU. November 13 is the Marine Corps Ball. There are a few tickets available. See him. On November 7 cadets will be at Bragg Stadium.
Sonya Pace, DAR, San Luis Mission Chapter. No report.
Nell Hewitt, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. Poppy distribution will be at Sam’s and Sonny’s (almost next door) and on Veterans Day the Auxiliary will be at the breakfast at the American Legion handing out Poppies.
Roxann Dressel, Commander, American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville; Commander, American Legion District 2. Flyers were made available for ordering Wreaths for the Tallahassee National Cemetery; Ceremony is on December 19. Please sponsor a wreath or more. American Legion Post 114 will host on November 27 from 10 am to 2 pm (while supplies last) a Mullet Fish Fry at the Hudson Park Pavillion, 21 Ochlockonee St., Crawfordville, Florida for $15 a plate. Flyers were available with a QR Code for ordering in advance.
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 are sold. Stop by and please buy donuts. Mentioned by Chris Wilson.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. VFW 3308 will continue with its First Responders Awards Program. Heather Mitchell is holding free local veteran dental services on November 13 from 8-2 at Tallahassee State College. See him for details.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. He attended the state trooper academy and gave them pins which are red and white. They always wear it on their uniforms.
Tom Carney, Bud West, Air & Space Forces Association Chapter 419. The Air & Space, Bud West Chapter, held its meeting on Thursday, October 29 at 6 pm. The slate of officers was re-elected. It is a dictatorship.
Fred Ingley, MOAA. Save the Date flyers were available. On March 13, 2027, K9s for Warriors is a proud sponsor of an event at the Tallahassee Moose Lodge for which tickets will go on sale on January 4, 2027.
Alphonso Ash, Army veteran. He’s an intern here with Brooklyn Enders.
Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Call! You don’t have to be in crisis!
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776, American Legion Post 13, Fleet Reserve Association. AmVets will hold its 3rd Annual Turkey Shoot this Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 146 Pistol Range Rd in Tallahassee (Tallahassee Rifle and Pistol Club). Entry Fee is $20 for shooters which includes lunch provided by Mission BBQ. Flyers were provided. Flyers were also provided promoting the AmVets raffle ($5 each or 3 for $10) of an AR 556 Rifle, must be 21 to win and drawing will be at the Turkey Shoot. Winner need not be present. Lew Wilson is now an author of children’s books. Cards were made available for ordering the book from Amazon. He has two medical scooters that are VA eligible. See him for details. Thank you Kaitlyn (wearing her Mission BBQ hat), American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Chris Wilson, etc.
Chris Wilson, Major Morale. Marc Dickieson will be at it for 3 ½ years of selling Krispy Kreme donuts outside of the Ace Hardware. He has made contacts and has gotten zero response.
David Wilson, AmVets, Air & Space Forces Association. On December 7 at 11 am there will be a ceremony with a wreath laying at the State Capitol that has been moved. It will be behind the Capitol across from the Florida Supreme Court Building (where the Dolphin statues play in the water).
Cindy Myers, Attorney, Legal Services of North Florida. Veterans who are homeless or housing insecure should contact her. They will participate in the Veterans Day Parade.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) in October performed 17 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. During the month of October approximately 314 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. The BBHG has performed 1,643 interments thru the end of October since the cemetery opened in 2015.
Paula Hubert, Women Veterans Unite (WVU). WVU is holding a fundraiser at Fazoli’s on November 10 from 5-9 pm. 20% of proceeds support WVU when you mention Women Veterans Unite.
Ritaann Schultz, National Chair, Traumatic Brain Injury, member American Legion Post 340. She has been a survivor for 11 years. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. This Saturday, November 7th there will be fishing on Lake Seminole at the At Ease Campground and Marina for veterans. People have volunteered to take veterans on their boats to fish. A Flag Retirement will be held from 5-9. Havana will be having a veterans day parade this Saturday, November 7 starting at 11 am.
Kaitlyn Grimes, Tallahassee Police Department, Community Relations. No report. Wearing her Mission BBQ hat, veterans can stop by and pick up a free sandwich at 1 pm on Veterans Day; there will be a Blood Drive also where you can receive a coupon for a free sandwich.
Braxton Carroll, new hire at TPD.
Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Call the office if you need help.
Craig Williams, Congressman Neal Dunn’s Office. Four things: #1Thank you on behalf of Congressman Dunn, #2 November 19 is the Academy panel, #3 Austin Rogers was elected last night, #4 Thank You!
Terry Snyder, Red Dragonfly Animal Rescue, Horses Helping Heroes. She and her husband say Thank You and their rescue is a 501C(3). Groom or wash horses, muck stalls, or just sit under a tree and watch. Flyers were available and they are located at 112 Wilson Estates Rd., Crawfordville.
Renae Lane, North Florida South Georgia VA CRRS HUD/VASH, Mental Health APRN and a veteran, CVMA. Contact Cathy Fields, Outreach Program at the NFSG VA.
Brooklyn Enders, Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. Congratulations to the Gulf War Monument in Washington, DC. Flyers were made available for Hiring Fair. Tomorrow there will be a Prep for Vets event with a free lunch – thank you Mission BBQ. There will be a hiring fair on November 10 from 9-10 am for veterans at Tallahassee State College Center for Workforce Development; and Paychecks for Patriots 2026 presented by Career Source Capital Region with a QR Code flyer to register or call 850-926-0980.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 13. The next meeting is on the fifth Thursday of the month and on the months that don’t have a fifth Thursday, they meet on the second Thursday at 6 pm at the American Legion Post 13. The Sons of the American Legion met last Thursday. Recruiting is always ongoing.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13. Havana, Florida hasn’t had a Veterans Day event in 20 years. Col (R) Larry Clayton, Past Post 13 Third Vice Commander, is heading up the efforts to have a Veterans Day Parade and other activities this Saturday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m. If you are interested in entering the parade or helping out in any way, please call him at 850-508-9150. If you are available, please contact him on how you can assist in this veteran activity. Honor Flight on April 24, 2027. The Reunion Dinner for Honor Flight is on for Wednesday, December 9 at 5:30.
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 (this coming Tuesday, November 10). Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. There will be a breakfast from 6:30-9:30 am underwritten by Leon Conty and presented by American Legion Post 13 on Veterans Day, November 11. The breakfast is free and open to the public. The American Legion Post 13 will host a full Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day. Lunch will be served from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. The lunch is free and open to the public. Come and enjoy Thanksgiving at “The Post”.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. Thank you to Melissa Sheridan for her updates. The latest Quarterly Support Committee meeting was held Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 3 pm at the Administration Building Conference Room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). Elections for Treasurer and Vice Chair were held and Tom Carney was elected Treasurer (Thank You Tom) and Phil Welsh was re-elected Vice Chair. Wreaths Across America - order as many as you can afford. The last day to order is December 2, 2026. She then read Liz Crawford’s report: Dream Flight had eight flyers on Tuesday (October 27) was a great event thanks to everyone. Please remember we are still doing our help hero campaign, raising money for the VFW helper hero scholarship fund that we sponsor every year. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the parade.
Dennis Hall led a salute to the American Flag and asked Chaplain John Folsom to provide the closing prayer.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 2 at 10 am at 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303 at Lake Ella.