Veteran of the Month
Shirley Worth: Surviving Spouse of the Month | January 2023
Shirley Worth was born in St. Louis on March 21, 1937. She was the oldest of eight children, although she was 12 years older than her next sibling. Her mother had seven more children after getting remarried. As a self-admitted wallflower, Shirley enjoyed staying home and didn’t really start to go out until she was…
Read MoreCharles E. Hill: Veteran of the Month | December 2022
Charles Hill is the oldest of thirteen children born in the boot-heel of Missouri in 1925. He grew up in the small town of Gideon, which sits just west of the Mississippi river. His mother had him at 17 years of age after getting married to his father at sixteen. He grew up farming…
Read MoreDaVina Richardson: Veteran of the Month
DaVina grew up on the northern east coast with a strong military influence rooted in servicing others. Out of fourteen children, she was number eleven and grew up with three siblings. They routinely ate Sunday dinner at her grandmother’s house as a youth. After which, DaVina would accompany her grandfather to deliver food to neighbors…
Read MoreSharon B. Robertson: Veteran of the Month | September 2022
United States Air Force Veteran, Sharon B. Robertson, had a unique upbringing but one that potentially prepared her for life in the military. Robertson had a strong military family background, and by 1970, she was picked to be part of a groundbreaking program that made her the face of women in the Air Force. Here…
Read MoreHarry T. Delk: Veteran of the Month | July 2022
Harry T. Delk was born in Flushing, NY, in 1935, as the Great Depression was nearing an end. His father was in the Army, and the family was transferred to New Jersey when his father was stationed at Fort Dix. The family eventually moved to Athens, NY, and lived with their grandfather in the house…
Read MoreMargaret “Chris” Thornburg: Veteran of the Month | May 2022
Margaret “Chris” Thornburg has all the qualities that define southern charm. She is polite, kind, witty, and considerate. You can imagine yourself sitting on a front porch swing on a warm afternoon, sipping sweet tea, laughing, and talking with her for hours. She instantly feels like someone you’ve known your whole life or at…
Read MoreJames Wideman: Veteran of the Month | April 2022
James Wideman was born in May of 1945 in St. Louis, MO. He was the fifth child of seven. There were six boys and one girl. Wideman enjoyed growing up in the city, spending his days with friends playing basketball, bottle caps, softball, and jumping garage roofs when they were close enough. “It was a…
Read MoreKenneth Fontenot: Veteran of the Month | March 2022
During Vietnam, Kenneth Fontenot was part of a classified underground electronics unit for the Army Signal Corps. After the military, he did many different jobs, from construction, electrical, roughnecking, ambulance attendant, preacher, and therapist. He said, “My daddy called me an educated fool, learned everything, and never stuck with one thing.” Fontenot stated, “I almost…
Read MoreDean Baubach: Veteran of the Month | February 2022
Respect. That is what Dean Baubach carried with him after his military service. A greater appreciation for our country, respect for our flag, and respect for the men and women who are willing to give up everything to defend our country. Dean Baubach was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN, in 1944 as the…
Read MoreJessie L. Smith: Veteran of the Month | January 2022
Within the first few minutes of speaking with World War II Veteran Jessie Smith, you realize you have forgotten all your problems, and you just want to spend the rest of the day listening to what he has to say. At 99 years old, he is the oldest and most beloved citizen in Saint Rose,…
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