In November of last year, I had the opportunity to explore the charming Normandy area in France. To make the most out of my visit, we hired the services of a local tour company called Albion Voyages, located in Bayeux, France (https://www.albion-voyages.com/). Our itinerary included visits to Pointe Du Hoc, Omaha Beach, The Normandy American…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

  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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

  Veterans of all ages are affected by PTSD. A variety of therapeutic and appreciation-focused programs aim to provide closure by connecting veterans with each other and their larger communities. Closure, from a psychological standpoint, is defined as “any interaction, information, or practice that allows a person to feel that a traumatic event has been…

Read More

  Jim Smith was born in November of 1948 in the small town of Rayville, Louisiana. He grew up with one sister, surrounded by nature’s beauty, and developed a love for hunting at an early age. Smith grew up in town, where his father worked at a local paper mill. When Smith was a teen,…

Read More
James E. Bryan holding a photo of himself from his time in the US Navy

James E. Bryan World War II Veteran | U.S. Navy 1944 – 1946. On December 20th, 1943 Chicago resident James E. Bryan enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday. Bryan’s training, which took place at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois, the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, TX, and Catalina Island in California,…

Read More
Cheryl Hammons of Veterans Care Coordination

Navigating the expense of quality home care for loved ones who wish to age in place can be difficult. For some families, exploring resources that may help to cover the costs is vital. In this episode, Cheryl Hammons, Senior Partnership Director at Veterans Care Coordination shares valuable insight on the options that may be available…

Read More