Weekly Report 🎖
Camp Gordon Johnston | TVLC | Run For The Fallen | Seabees Ball | GWOT 100
Dear Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum friends and supporters,
We invite you to attend the Camp Gordon Johnston [CGJ] WWII Museum’s 31st Annual Veterans Parade on Saturday, March 14, 2026, starting at 10:45 am ET in Carrabelle, FL.
This parade recognizes, salutes, and honors veterans and active members from all branches of the Armed Forces for their service and sacrifice to protect and defend our great nation. Please make plans now, to attend and bring your family and friends.
This community parade typically features the CGJ Museum’s WWII DUKW, Willis Jeep, and German Lieferwagen as well as Military Vehicle Preservation Association and other military vehicles. Other parade entries are color guards, numerous veteran organizations including auxiliary units, veteran bike rider chapters and clubs, and JROTC units. Local entries include civic and community organizations such as Shriners, floats, decorated golf carts, gorgeous classic cars and beauty queens of all ages.
The parade travels east through Carrabelle along HWY 98 between 10th Street West and the intersection at CR 67 [Tallahassee Street]. Those not participating in the parade may enjoy the parade anywhere along the parade route.
There is no cost to participate in the parade and CGJ Museum invites everyone to participate. Participants do not need any military affiliation to participate, just an appreciation for our veterans and active Armed Forces service members. Individuals, community organizations and businesses are welcome to participate with a float, vehicle or as walkers. Participants and by-standers can show their support for our veterans and military service members by displaying the red, white and blue.
For best parade placement, participants are asked to complete the 2026 Online Parade Entry Form by March 09, 2026. Others may wish to print and complete the paper entry form found at 2026 Paper Parade Entry Form. Please send the completed form by email to dbutler@campgordonjohnston.com or mail to the CGJ Parade Committee, P.O. Box 1334, Carrabelle, FL 32322. Those late entries who haven’t registered are still encouraged to participate, lining up in the vicinity of B Avenue and 4th Street west.
The CGJ WWII Museum, located at 1873 Highway 98 West, will be open Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. Guests are encouraged to visit and see the remarkable artifacts and learn about the amazing stories of the region’s WWII heroes. Vehicles and trucks with trailers can park at the Museum or downtown area. While in Carrabelle, participants are encouraged to stay for the weekend or longer and enjoy Carrabelle’s two other museums, the Carrabelle History Museum and the Crooked River Lighthouse, and a variety of community events, activities, attractions, and eateries.
Should you need additional information, please email, text, or call.
David K. Butler
Chairman, CGJA Parade Committee
dbutler@campgordonjohnston.com
850-274-3890
Greetings, Team Yes, We’re still seeing a Record number of Clinic Veterans Asking for help! More than 50-60 total in the last 2 Thursdays
Our TVLC Legal Clinic Thursday 2/5/26, at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13, featured a larger volunteer Team of 28, including 8 attorneys, BUT working with 22 Veterans and family walking in and several others by phone; Veterans volunteered with set up, intakes, etc. even though their court-ordered community service requirements have already been completed. (Khalid, Charles, Gregory).
This week the Leon Co Property Appraiser’s office helped at the Legal Clinic; we also assisted several Veterans in moving forward next steps toward Reinstating their Driver’s Licenses; Another bicycle was repaired by Jim Piche and delivered for a Veteran trying to get to work. Two law students and new paralegal for LSNF helped our volunteers with Veterans on usual legal requests (and some very Unusual). The number of issues with the VA, however, 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?
Veterans from all over the state visited the Capital this week for Veterans Week, and 13 Veteran-related bills advanced in committees or on the House floor! At one point, 15 “support” speakers’ cards on a single bill were submitted as a Senate committee heard SB 50, which would strengthen and expand Veterans Treatment Courts, while in the other chamber, Rep. (General) Maney passed the companion bill on the floor the next evening. Leaders of Veteran Service Organizations reminded Florida Legislators that many of us are watching what they are doing for and TO Veterans. Despite the attention-seeking, public divisive isssues, at least most legislators are attempting to help Veterans and their families, and in the usual Bipartisan co-operation. Session is approaching the half-way mark in a couple days. See www.flsenate.gov for info on the now more than 50 Veteran-related bills proposed this year. Let us know if you want our “tracker” listing of the ongoing status of the bills, which we update daily. Please volunteer to help if you can.
Leon County Veterans Treatment Court will be in session Monday, February 9, , 3 PM in the downtown Courthouse, Courtroom 2E. The quarterly Graduation Ceremony is coming up on February 23, a great opportunity to be inspired by the successes of Veterans concluding their Court obligations. Please consider coming to observe/ maybe becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.
Congratulations to John Folsom for his well-deserved award from the Commanders’ Coalition Wednesday in recognition of his founding the organization and keeping it going monthly after more than a decade. Nearly fifty representatives from VSO’s and support agencies participated, including half of TVLC’s Board again.
TVLC’s truck and trailer load of food was delivered Wednesday to several places and was worked by Veterans Khalid Shafi, Charles Robinson, Sam Adams, David Martinez, Gregory Howard, Chris Bodiford and Eddie McMillian. See photo. Other friends donated food, clothing, and handwarmers to help meet the colder weather these 2 weeks.
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
Don’t miss your chance to secure your 2026 Commanders Coalition Outpost 1 T-shirt
FLORIDA VETERANS’ FOUNDATION – VETERANS DENTAL BENEFITS
The Florida Veterans Dental Program, managed by the Florida Veterans Foundation (FVF), provides essential dental services to veterans who do not qualify for dental care through the federal VA. To be eligible, applicants must be Florida residents who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves and possess a DD-214 or NG22 reflecting an honorable or general-under-honorable discharge. Further criteria require that the veteran’s household income must be at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level and their VA service-connected disability rating must be less than 100% and without a direct service-connected injury impacting their oral health; additional information can be found at www.helpflvets.org.
FLORIDA VETERAN LEGISLATION
The 2026 Florida Legislative Session is scheduled to begin Jan. 13, 2026, and conclude on March 13, 2026. Veteran-related bills will be watched by the FDVA and posted on this page:
Florida Legislative Update – Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
FLORIDA VETERANS COALITION
Provides emergency relief for Veterans facing urgent needs, funds critical medical treatments and therapies, provides scholarships to help them pursue their dreams, and brings spiritual and emotional support to grieving families and struggling heroes.
Community - Florida Veterans Coalition
The Global War on Terror (GWOT) shaped the lives of millions of service members, Veterans and military families. The GWOT 100 is a new way to honor that era together—by moving our bodies, remembering our stories and staying connected.
GWOT 100 is a free, month-long, virtual challenge held each February. The mission is simple: complete 100 miles in 28 days. You can walk, run, ruck, hike, ride, swim or row—whatever works for your body and your life. Spread out over the month, it’s just a little over three miles a day, and you can break that up however you’d like.
This challenge is designed to be doable for anybody, whether you’re just getting started, rebuilding after an injury or illness or are already active. It’s a great way to kick off a health journey if you’re just getting active again.
Created by Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), the GWOT 100 builds on 15 years of community and camaraderie from the Taji 100 challenge. But this time, the miles are tied directly to the places and stories many Veterans know all too well.
For the first three years, GWOT 100 will focus on Iraq, starting in the Sunni Triangle this February and then moving to Southern and Northern Iraq. As you log your miles, you’ll move virtually through key locations, bases and events from the Global War on Terror. Along the way, you’ll encounter short stories and historical spotlights that bring those places to life: What happened there, who served there and how those experiences still echo today.
After the Iraq series, GWOT 100 will turn its attention to Afghanistan, continuing the journey through another theater that defined a generation of service as you traverse the four Regional Commands.
At its core, GWOT 100 is about connection: To our own health, to each other and to the shared history of the GWOT era. You do it on your own, with a buddy or on a team. Many people choose to invite family and friends to join them, or engage in some (friendly) competition with another team.
Participation in GWOT 100 is free with paid options available.
All you need to do is sign up, start moving and let your miles become a way to remember, reflect and keep moving forward.
View online to learn more and register.
Valentines Day—Amazon Special
And don’t forget about the special day on February 14. Don’t wait until that day to find a special card or see if Amazon will deliver something in 4 hours. Here is a link for special military discounts for Valentine’s Day - https://www.military.com/discounts/military-discounts-for-valentines-day.html