Vet Village Needs Funding | Operation Honor Guard | Giving 4th | Medal of Freedom
Weekly Report 🎖️
I recently came across a nonprofit which seeks to bolster the ranks of volunteer Honor Guards across the nation. As a former USAF Ceremonial Guardsman, I understand the critical importance of this mission. Please share this organization with Honor Guards near you so their network might grow.
A New Tradition Begins
This July 4th, America250 is working to transform Independence Day into the largest single day of charitable giving in American history, and to establish July 4 as a lasting national tradition of generosity.
The movement – which they’re calling Giving 4th – begins this 4th of July.
On July 4th, I will send out an email containing links to ALL of the Veteran nonprofits in Outpost 1. If you are a Veteran nonprofit, send us the link you want people to visit to make their donation. Together, we can change the lives of Veterans in our communities.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
As you all may remember, a member of Outpost 1 suggested we should posthumously nominate Major John Haynes Sr. for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I have completed his nomination paperwork and will be sending it to the family for approval. Upon family acceptance, it will go before the coalition and I will call for organizational endorsements. The nomination letter will be digitally signed by the people/organizations who support this nomination. More details to follow
Greetings, Team
Congratulate a Marine, a Soldier and a Guardsman in person for their success: Please plan to come to Court on Monday, 3 pm, May 18th for the next Graduation for Veterans completing the Veterans Treatment Court program!! (Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 2E). Maybe you will consider becoming an invaluable Veteran Mentor for one of the other Vets working their way through the program and recovery. Several Veterans are awaiting a Mentor, both men and women.
This week’s walk-in legal clinic involved our Team of 13 Volunteers (including 6 attys) working with 18 Veterans and family members (Thursday, 5/14/26) at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13. We could use some more help!
On Wednesday, the Food Delivery team (Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Eddie McMillian, Sam Adams) drove the truck and trailer load to various sites around the county.
🚨ALARM FOR AREA VETERANS AND SUPPORT AGENCIES: 🚨
Vet Village, owned by Volunteers of America, Inc, is planning to close at the end of September, for lack of funding! Everyone start brainstorming to see which agencies, govt entities, etc. can maybe lease and continue operating the facility for 54 Veteran beds for “transitioning off the Streets!” Time to be creative and deliberate!
REDUX: It’s time for an advocacy email from you! These next couple of weeks the Governor will be receiving, reviewing and deciding whether to approve many of the bills that were passed in this year’s legislative session that “ended” last month. His office needs to hear your emphatic support for General Patt Maney’s House Bill 199 which will strengthen Veterans’ Treatment Courts all over the state by increasing the number of Veterans entering the Criminal Court program to rebuild their lives and record, recover from addiction or other behavioral/ trauma personal problems and succeed in moving forward for their families and their future. Even a brief phone message to his office will accomplish the same purpose of showing our support (850/717-9337). The link to the Executive Office of the Governor is: https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact
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?
What else?
Thank you,
Dan Hendrickson, for the Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative www.Tallahasseeveteranslegal.com
PO Box 11091,
Tallahassee, Fl 32302,
850/ 570-1967