Skin Cancer Awareness graphic with a black ribbon and an older man talking with a doctor

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…

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May is Military Month graphic with silhouetted soldiers marching out of a hangar

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…

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Veteran of the Month March 2024: Glenn Schmidt, shown in Army uniform years ago and in a recent photo

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,…

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National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29th: why you should say "Welcome Home" to a Vietnam Veteran

  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…

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Veteran of the Month January 2024: Leon Schell, sepia portrait of a young man in a suit and tie

Robert Leon Schell was born in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1927. He preferred to go by Leon, as his mother never wanted him to be called Bobby. Schell had an older sister with whom he shared a very close bond. His father worked at a woodworking plant that, at one point, produced wooden…

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Veteran of the Month December 2023: Jim Hubbard in Marine Corps dress uniform

Jim Hubbard was born and raised in north Saint Louis County, the second oldest of three sisters and two brothers. His mother was a homemaker, and his father was a skilled sous chef at Westwood Country Club, who also worked at McDonald Douglas during the Mercury program. The perks of his father’s occupation occasionally translated…

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Thank you to our VCC Veterans and Surviving Spouses, beside an American flag

  On November 10th, VCC employees had the fortunate opportunity to step away from their desks and visit the Veterans and surviving spouses whom we are honored to assist daily. A team of eleven VCC members took to the streets, connecting with ten clients in the St. Louis area, including a 96-year-old WWII Veteran and…

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Veteran of the Month November 2023: Jon Moore, shaking hands in Navy uniform

Jon Moore was raised in a typical Red Oak, Iowa household. His father, an electrician, was also a radio instructor during WWII. Moore and his younger brother grew up in town, and when they weren’t in the community pool a few blocks from their house, you could find them playing sandlot baseball or football. After…

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Veteran of the Month September 2023: Dwight Henry

Dwight Henry, born in May 1950, was the middle child among seven siblings. His upbringing in Jackson, Mississippi, unfolded against a tumultuous era for African Americans. Yet, he was unwavering in his commitment to pursuing a peaceful path. Henry grew up loving music and had an early sense of responsibility. He started assisting with babysitting,…

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VA PACT Act banner: a servicewoman in camouflage speaking with a woman across a desk

President Biden’s oldest son, Joseph, died of brain cancer on May 30, 2015. Since then, Biden has publicly connected his son’s brain cancer to toxic burn pits. According to Biden, Joseph’s exposure to burn pits was extensive; therefore, taking up the cause to ensure expanded healthcare and services would be available to soldiers like his…

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