A TIME TO REFLECT: 150 ATTEND CANDLELIGHT SERVICE AT MEMORIAL

About 150 candles flickered in the breeze at Sunday's candlelight ceremony at The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.

The candles, held by family, friends and veterans, symbolized the sacrifices made by those whose names appear on the wall, said John Ferguson, a Korean War veteran and chaplain of Cape Girardeau's American Legion Post 63.

"These heroes who sacrificed selflessly and carried the light of freedom into a foreign country so we could have freedom here are not forgotten," he said in his prayer to open the ceremony.

As members of VFW Post 3838 Ladies Auxiliary lit their candles and spread the flame among the crowd, Julie Cowsert of Cape Girardeau sang "Sleep Soldier Boy," a selection chosen by auxiliary members.

"I'm willing to do whatever I can to help out when recognizing the veterans that fought for us," said Cowsert.

Her father was a veteran of World War II and she felt her participation was a way for her to "give back a little bit."

Deborah Griffin, president of the VFW auxiliary, was instrumental in planning Sunday's candlelight ceremony at the traveling Vietnam memorial. Griffin's husband, Paul, received a Purple Heart while on his tour of duty in Vietnam.

"The auxiliary is here to support the vets," said Griffin. She wanted to get involved because of her husband's time in Vietnam and because he has friends on the wall.

Dale Smith of Cape Girardeau served with the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1975. Smith has been a volunteer at the traveling wall every day it has been in Cape Girardeau. Although he did not see action in Vietnam, it has been a hard thing for him to do.

"I have friends on the wall," he said. Smith helps visitors find names on the wall, listens to their stories and "cries with them."

"This is a very reverent place," he said. Counselors and ministers have been in attendance every day and, according to Smith, "are very much needed."

Smith, who is also associated with the Cape River Heritage Museum, said memorabilia left at the traveling exhibit while here will be taken to the museum.

Smith, an aide for a handicapped student at Cape Central High School, hopes to share some of the mementos with students at the school.

Roy Rhodes of Scott City has been to The Wall in Washington and visits the traveling exhibit whenever it is near. Rhodes wears two bracelets in honor of two of the 2,000 soldiers who served in Vietnam but are still unaccounted for. The first thing he does when visiting the exhibits is to check the roster of names.

"I'll keep wearing the bracelets until they are found," he said.

An estimated 5,000 people have visited the memorial, which has been on display at Arena Park since Thursday morning.

People visit the memorial at all times of the day, but "it's the veterans who come at night," said Vietnam veteran Ron MacCubbin. "They come then to be with other vets."

For some it is their first visit to the memorial.

They will stand on the perimeter for hours before finally making their way to the wall.

"Each veteran's experience is different and they must deal with it in their own way," said MacCubbin.

The Wall That Heals will remain open throughout the day.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Albert Spradling III will speak at the 9:30 p.m. closing ceremonies. The exhibit will officially close with the playing of taps, followed by the retiring of the colors by color guards from the Cape and Jackson legion posts and the Cape Girardeau VFW post.

Donna Bedwell can be contacted at 335-6611 ext. 211 or by e-mail at dbedwell@semissourian.com.