Jamie Gianopulos

National Grandparents Day is coming up next month on Sunday, September 8th, and this year’s theme is “Grand Minds: Learn, Love, Legacy.” It’s a day dedicated to celebrating and honoring the love given by grandparents. When my dad became a grandpa, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and often quoted Bill Laurin, saying, “If I knew…

James Robert Laizure was born on his family’s farm in Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1924. Laizure, who went by Bob his entire life, is the oldest of seven siblings, all born in their home. Laizure explained that whenever a new sibling was going to arrive, the children were sent to wait in the barn while…

Alicia Pederson has been a valuable member of Veterans Care Coordination (VCC) since March 2020. Despite joining during a challenging time with few people in the office, Alicia seamlessly and instantly connected with clients. Over her four years of service, Alicia has consistently embodied VCC’s core values of accountability, continuous improvement, and serving one…

Frank Guerrettaz was born in a small town in Northern Illinois. He was the second youngest of five, with three older brothers and one younger sister. His father, a paratrooper in the Army during WWII, worked on oil rigs, and the family moved frequently as the rigs for the oil fields were pulled and relocated.…

Wilburn “Bill” Williford was the oldest child among seven siblings. He was born in Whitten, Arkansas, in 1917, but his family later moved to the Bootheel of Missouri to search for better employment opportunities. His father worked various odd jobs to support the family, and when Williford was only 7 or 8 years old, he…

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the US, with over 5 million cases annually. However, the good news is that skin cancer is also the most preventable form of cancer. Because skin cancer is visible, it can be detected…

May is a special month as it marks Military Appreciation Month. This is a time for us to acknowledge and honor the invaluable contributions and sacrifices made by our military members and their loved ones. Every day, families across the nation and the world hold their dear ones in their hearts and thoughts, feeling both…

Samuel Jefferson Hughes, named after his grandfathers, was born in St. Louis in 1947. He is the oldest of two boys. His family never stayed in one place very long. Hughes laughed, saying, “We moved a lot; we were gypsies, I guess.” They always lived in the St. Louis area, but he estimates he moved…

Glenn Schmidt was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in September 1941. He is the oldest among his four siblings. His family has some Pennsylvania Dutch roots and a long history of farming. When Schmidt was nine years old, his father moved the family to Philadelphia, PA, which he wasn’t initially happy about. At a young age,…

Vietnam War Veterans Day Have you ever heard someone say “Welcome Home” to a Vietnam Veteran, and if so, do you know why this is done? It is a small gesture of gratitude and recognition for their immense sacrifices for our country. These brave soldiers were not only fighting in a war zone, but…