American spirit

Over the next week there will be family gatherings, patriotic services and plenty of outdoor activities. All this plus fireworks.

But the Fourth of July is more than a day off work. It's a time to celebrate our country -- freedom and all things that make America the land of the free and home of the brave.

Each year we take the opportunity around the Fourth to celebrate this through the Southeast Missourian Spirit of America award. The recognition is meant to honor those who go above and beyond. Those who look beyond self and find ways to serve others. This can be through military service or being involved and making a difference in the community.

Today, we introduce you to the six nominees for the 2013 Spirit of America award. You can read the nominations for each in Tuesday's paper, where the winner will also be announced with a front-page story.

* Doug Austin, nominated by Cape Girardeau S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Lawmen Together) Council. Austin's outgoing personality and passion have led him to serve in many ways in our community and beyond. A member of Bethany Baptist Church, he has served on numerous church and faith-based committees. Austin has been a board member for the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging and a member and secretary for S.A.L.T. Recently he has worked with the Keep Cape Beautiful Beautification Committee to recognize businesses for beautification efforts. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder awarded Austin with the Senior Service Award this year.

* Kenneth Bender, nominated by the Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club. Bender is a World War II veteran, businessman and has been involved in several community, religious, veteran and civic organizations. In addition to being a charter member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, for 51 years Bender has been a member of the Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club. His service to the club includes a year as the organization's president.

* Ross E. Gartman, nominated by the Jackson Rotary Club. Gartman served in the Missouri Army National Guard for 16 years. This included tours of combat in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. But service did not stop on the battlefield. In 2008, Gartman founded Heroes Way, an effort to raise money for highway signs to honor fallen soldiers. The signs are posted in the hometown of the deceased soldier. Heroes Way came about after one of his friends was killed while serving in Iraq. Additionally, Gartman is a children's minister at Lighthouse Church in Dexter, Mo.

* Mary Kasten, nominated by the Southeast Missouri Pachyderm Club and the Cape County Republican Women's Club. Kasten has been a dedicated public servant for decades, and this goes beyond her years in the state's General Assembly. She was a charter member of Teen Challenge Auxiliary and a founding member of the Community Caring Council. Kasten's service on the Cape Girardeau Public Schools Board spanned three decades, and she also served on the Missouri School Board Association.

* Lillian Martin, nominated by Success By 6/United Way of Southeast Missouri. Good teachers are heroes. They engage students with a unique gift in education. Martin has worked in the Head Start program in South Cape Girardeau for 29 years. She's helped at-risk students get a solid start in education -- something that's important to their educational success and future employment. She's also a member of the Lighthouse International Ministry Church, National Head Start Association and Success By 6 leadership team.

* Marjorie Helen Miller Thompson, nominated by Cape River Heritage Museum. Cape Girardeau is full of history, and there are many people who have played a role in helping to preserve it. Thompson was one of these individuals. In addition to serving as a volunteer, officer and director at the Cape River Heritage Museum, Thompson supported several other local and state organizations and commissions associated with history. A supporter of the Girl Scouts of America, Thompson was awarded the "Women of Impact" award by the Cape Girardeau Otahki Council in 2004. She was nominated for the Spirit of America award posthumously.

Congratulations to all of the 2013 Spirit of America award nominees. Each person has a unique and distinctively American story, and today we take time say thank you and celebrate your efforts.