Veterans

Daniel Smith was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of eight children in a family of four boys and four girls. Being the baby of the family, he admits with a laugh that he was a “mama’s boy.” Growing up, Smith enjoyed playing sports, including baseball, football, and basketball, and worked various odd…

Jesse Ard was born on October 23, 1922, in Wilson, Louisiana. He grew up with his brother, Tom, and his sister, Frances. After losing their father at a young age, Jesse, as the oldest child, took on the role of a father figure to his siblings, quickly learning the values of leadership and responsibility—qualities that…

August is National Wellness Month, making it the perfect time to focus on self-care, healthy routines, and establishing lifelong wellness habits that support mind and body. If you haven’t started a wellness routine yet, no worries—it’s never too late to begin. In fact, a recent study published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy found that older…

Each summer, the Lake Forest Country Club in Lake St. Louis becomes more than a place for golf and recreation—it transforms into a hub of generosity and remembrance during the annual Frankie G Charity Classic and Pickleball Tournament. What began as two separate charitable events—the Lake Forest Charity Classic and the Frankie G Memorial—has grown…

Robert Stephenson was born in Chicago on June 14, 1925, as the third of four children in his family, with two older brothers and a younger sister. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Moline, Illinois. There, his father purchased a house, but they lost it during the Great Depression. The family…

Elmus Miller Jr. was born in Wellston, Missouri, in 1940. Shortly before his second birthday, his parents divorced, and he moved to Arkansas, where he lived with his grandparents. His family worked on farms, pulling corn and picking cotton, and would often relocate in southeastern Missouri and parts of Arkansas for work. As a child, he enjoyed…

JT Stewart was born in Turkey, Texas, in 1933, but he grew up in the small town of Levelland. in the Texas Panhandle. Due to his red hair, he was nicknamed “Red” throughout his life. Stewart’s childhood was characterized by hard work and perseverance while living on a cotton farm located seven miles outside of…

Born in 1942 as the son of an Italian immigrant, Balletto grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was from Sicily, and his mother was from Ohio. After graduating from John Adams High School, he became interested in cars. He started building and racing cars on the track at Dragway 42 in Ohio. He described…

Hayes was born and raised in a small farming town in Iowa as the youngest of four children, with two older sisters and one older brother. He spent his childhood playing in the fields and has fond memories of getting lost in the woods for hours while hunting with his dog. Helping out in his…

Ickes grew up in rural northwest Ohio, spending much of his childhood on a farm. As an only child, he filled his days with outdoor activities such as fishing, target shooting, and hunting for Indian artifacts. He was also passionate about coin collecting and was involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), where he…