In St. Charles, a group of veterans gathers harmoniously every Saturday morning, guided by the gentle strumming of guitars and the quiet hum of camaraderie. According to St. Charles County’s website, these sessions are part of a local initiative called Frank’s Heroes—a charity providing free guitar lessons to veterans in the welcoming confines of the United Methodist Church on First Capitol Drive.
The initiative was spawned by a passion for music and a reverence for military veterans. Barb Dennis, the widow of founder Bill Dennis, remembers her late husband as having a lifelong devotion to the guitar and a wish to support veterans. This sentiment was echoed in a statement obtained by St. Charles County’s communications, revealing that the endeavor began in 2013 and has since provided musical respite to 50-60 veterans. It's an opportunity for these individuals, who have seen the darkest of days, to transpose their burdened chords into melodies of solace.
Leading these veterans on their harmonic journey is John Baker, a seasoned musician who once honed his classical guitar skills at Washington University. Baker, who still plays in local bands, likens the act of playing guitar to a form of mental sharpness and escape. "It makes your mind sharp," Baker told St. Charles County’s website. "You're learning how to play all these different chords and what all the different notes are, and you learn how to read music. And for some of these guys, I think it's an escape from some of the things that they've experienced, especially if they’ve been in Vietnam or Iraq or someplace like that."
Among the veterans tuning into this musical sanctuary is Ron Wunderlich, a Navy Seabee who saw action during the Tet Offensive. In his reflection shared with St. Charles County’s website, he remarks, "With guitar, you have to really be thinking about it and concentrating, and the rest of the world just goes away." Each chord strummed by Wunderlich and his fellow veterans at Frank’s Heroes not only fills the room with sound but provides a brief respite from the chorus of life’s travails.
Another veteran and group member, Juan Ramirez, finds a sense of familiar fellowship reminiscent of his service days. "You know, a bunch of guys reminds me again of being in the service and working with each other—without a war," Ramirez shared with St. Charles County’s website. The group also includes Ralph Moore, who joined Frank’s Heroes in 2016 and is often heard elevating their gatherings with his voice. The Saturday meetings, held from 10 to 11:30 AM, welcome all, providing guitars and sheet music to those in need.
The spirit of Frank’s Heroes is a living homage to the founder’s father, Frank Dennis.
