Visit Stars and Stripes Museum

This week's day trip is to the Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield.

On Nov. 9, 1861, soldiers of the Illinois 11th, 18th and 29th Regiments set up camp in Bloomfield after forcing the Confederates south.

Upon finding the newspaper office empty, they decided to print a newspaper for their expedition, relating the troop's activities. They called it the Stars and Stripes. This was the beginning of the "soldier's newspaper" 140 years ago.

To those in military service and to our veterans, the Stars and Stripes represents much more than our American flag. They recognize it as the newspaper that serves as a medium between soldiers and their families, as well as a reporter of news.

Over the last 139 years, millions of copies of the Stars and Stripes have been distributed throughout the world. And, it all began during the Civil War in Bloomfield.

One of the original copies of that 1861 paper is now owned by the Stoddard County Historical Society and is on loan at the museum.

The Stars and Stripes flourished during each of the five major wars this country has fought.

General John J. Pershing, a fellow Missourian, recognized the value of the Stars and Stripes "as a symbol of the things we are fighting to preserve ... free thought and free expression of a free people."

Many famous people have been connected with the Stars and Stripes: cartoonist Bill Mauldin, Andy Rooney and Steve Kroft of "60 Minutes" were former stripers as was Harold K. Ross, founder of the New Yorker magazine. Grantland Rice, Ernie Pyle, Walter Cronkite and other war correspondents have also contributed to the newspaper.

Several former Stars and Stripes staff members and various war veterans have donated personal letters, unpublished behind-the-scenes reports, back issues of the Stars and Stripes and other interesting war-related items. Many are displayed or filed as reference material.

All this history is preserved in a Stars and Stripes Museum and Library with climate-controlled storage, handicapped accessibility and display and meeting rooms, which are invaluable for research. The facility serves historians, students, and writers as well as the general public.

There are several ways to get to the museum in Bloomfield. Heading south in Interstate 55, you can turn west onto Highway 60 at Sikeston and follow it to the intersection of Highway 25 at Dexter. Head north on Highway 25 and Bloomfield is about five miles up the road. The second route to Bloomfield is to follow Highway 25 directly. It runs through Jackson and Dutchtown.

Send your suggestions or ideas to Bill Coomer at P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or e-mail him at bcoomer@semissourian.com.