Presidential Medal of Freedom | Chuck Norris Switches Sides 🕊️ | Membership Site Update
Weekly Report 🎖️
A member of Outpost 1 has suggested we posthumously nominate Major John Haynes Sr for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government’s highest civilian honor. Awarded by the President, it is often presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields.
Nomination, Selection, and Presentation
There is no formal procedure for nominations or the evaluation of potential recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The President can award the medal to “any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative.” Selections often reflect the President’s political and personal interests.
The medal is often, though not always, presented at an annual White House ceremony.
Commanders Coalition National Website Update
The board voted to shutdown the membership website because it was costing $60/mo and nobody was using it. Membership records have been retained.
HOWEVER
We have gone back to our roots and focused on the core value proposition—Veteran News and Events. This new page is for national Veteran news. Think of it like a Reuters for Veterans. We’re still adding Veteran Organizations.
USAF Veteran Chuck Norris Switches Sides at 86 🕊️
Norris joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman (AP) in 1958 and was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea. It was there that Norris acquired the nickname "Chuck" and began his training in Tang Soo Do (tangsudo). When he returned to the United States, he continued to serve as an AP at March Air Force Base in California until his discharge in 1962.
Here are just a few honors he received in his lifetime
—In 2001, Norris received the Veteran of the Year award by the U.S. Air Force
—On March 28, 2007, Commandant Gen. James T. Conway made Norris an honorary United States Marine during a dinner at the commandant’s residence in Washington, D.C.
—On December 2, 2010, he was given the title honorary Texas Ranger by Texas Governor Rick Perry.
~Source Wikipedia
Greetings, Team
This Monday, March 23, 3 pm is your Next opportunity to observe a session of the Leon CountyVeterans 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.
Our TVLC Legal Clinic at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13, this past Thursday afternoon, 3/19/26 included a team of 12 Volunteers (including 8 attys).
17 Veterans and family came in, plus we assisted at least 3 others by phone, in and out of state. Veteran Sam Adams, despite having already completed any court obligations for community service, worked steadily Thurs from early setup to late closing and helping set up for the meeting of Women Veterans Unite. Kathy Glasson also deserves special credit filling in for folks who missed this week.
Kudo’s again to TVLC’s truck and trailer team this week-- Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Sam Adams, Gregory Howard, and Eddie McMillian, Veteran volunteers whodelivered the load of food and drinks again Wednesday from Quincy to 4 locations around Tallahassee.
No gubernatorial action yet on the bills passed by the 2026 Legislature: NEW VETERANS BENEFITS: Dental Benefits were expanded (HB 253), Veteran Housing subsidies were added when moving is delayed (SB 1602), among several Veterans bills on their way to the Governor. Since the appropriations process hasn’t been worked out as scheduled, the “Regular session” did not finalize the 26-27 Florida budget on time. Before session adjourned, though, more than a dozen Veteran-related bills were passed in one or both chambers in the usual Bipartisan co-operation, including the reform bill by Gen. Patt Maney strengthening the 34 Veteran Courts around the state! (HB 199). Also See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now at least 64 Veteran-related bills which were pending this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we updated daily during the session. Some legislation passed may present potential harm to some Veterans if signed by the Governor; other bills fortunately died on the floor of one or the other chamber as the session ended last week.
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