1,200 TO ATTEND AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTIONS HERE

As many as 1,200 people are expected in Cape Girardeau for the American Legion Legionnaires and Auxiliary conventions Thursday through Sunday.

"Attendance at the state conventions usually average about 400 to 500 for the Auxiliary and about twice that amount for the Legionnaires," said Alice E. Messmer of the Missouri American Legion Auxiliary Department of Public Relations.

Desiree A. Stoy of Mansfiled, Ohio, central division national vice president of the Auxiliary, will be keynote speaker at the Auxiliary meeting. She will be here for the entire conference.

Stoy, who has served on numerous Auxiliary committees on all levels, has been a member of the Auxiliary more than 25 years, joining as a junior member in 1969. Stoy, a secretary and notary public at Ashland University, is an honorary life member of the Irvin Hiskey United 535 in Bellville, Ohio.

The Cape Girardeau convention will be the 76th annual session for the Auxiliary, said Barbara Rawls of Malden, Auxiliary convention chairman.

Joanne Snodgrass of Lockwood, Auxiliary state president, will preside.

The Auxiliary events will be held at Drury Lodge, which serves as headquarters. The Holiday Inn is headquarters for the Legionnaires.

The American Legion Auxiliary was founded in 1920 and is the largest patriotic women's organization in the world. National membership is about 1 million, with 22,500 members in Missouri.

"The convention actually starts Friday," said Rawls. "The opening session will get under way at 8:30 a.m. Friday."

The executive board will meet Thursday afternoon, added Rawls.

The Auxiliary has many programs aimed to serve veterans and their families.

The group provides programs for hospitalized veterans. community service, children and youths, Girls State and Girls Nation.

The Legionnaires will start registering convention participants Thursday, said Homer Dickmann of the Cape Girardeau American Legion.

A number of awards will be presented during the convention, which officially opens Friday morning.

Missouri Sen. James L. Mathewson will receive the Legion's Legislative award. Distinguished Legionnaire Awards will be presented to Russell Stith and Darryle Bartlett, and the Legion's Law and Order Award will be presented to Calvin J. Miller.

A key speaker for the Legionnaire convention will be announced.

Election of officers will be held Sunday.