ANY HOUSE CAN BE A HOME; MISSOURI VETERANS' HOME IN CAPE GIRARDEAU PROVIDES SHELTER, CARE AND ACTIVITIES FOR 147 RESIDENTS

Frank Wubker aimed for the corner pocket in a billiard game at the Missouri Veterans Home.

A new bus took veterans on a shopping trip.

Bill Walker, a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home, keeps the aquarium fish fed.

When we talk about home most of us think of a dwelling housing two to six adults and children.

To the 147 residents of the Missouri Veterans Home at 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, home takes on a little different meaning.

The 90 room facility offers both single and double rooms to accommodate medical conditions and personal preference.

Mealtime finds most residents in the large dining hall. Shooting a game of pool, watching TV, reading or just observing the fish in the aquarium help residents pass away the hours.

Raymond Smith, of Kennett, has called the Cape Girardeau Veterans' home his home for the past six years. "If you need to be someplace other than home, this is a wonderful place to be," said Smith. "The people here are as good a bunch as you would want to meet," he added.

Smith, along with fellow residents, staff and volunteers headed to Wal-mart Thursday in the home's new bus.

Ken Lipps, activities director for the home, said that the state provides smaller vans which are used mainly to take residents to medical appointments. "The new $40,500 (multi-wheelchair) bus was purchased entirely with donations," said Lipps.

Residents look forward to the outings and thanks to the Lilbourn VFW Auxiliary Unit 7183, Disabled Veterans Association of Lakewood, Ohio, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Department of Missouri a larger number will be able to venture out.

Also making outings such as Thursday's possible are the large number of people who volunteer their time.

Betty G. Cato has logged over 1,000 volunteer hours at the home. "I wanted to be part of the military, not out of obligation, but out of pleasure," said Cato. "They (the veterans) deserve everything we can do for them."

In addition to assisting on the outings, Cato also works in the home's canteen and helps with the birthday parties. Other volunteers pass ice and water, deliver mail, man the information desk, make personal visits and assist with other in-house activities.

"We just come and ask Ken (Lipps) what needs to be done," said Cato. "We don't just turn them loose," said Lipps. "Each volunteer is given an assignment."

Petey, the resident veterans home dog, provides hours of enjoyment to staff, volunteers and residents. Volunteers also bring their own pets in to visit on occasion.

Organized bingo games provided another form of entertainment with residents competing for dollar prizes for a BINGO.

The Rev. Lou Launhardt, coordinator of Chaplaincy at the home, helps to train lay pastors who volunteer their time to offer spiritual assistance to the residents.

Although this "home" may be a little different than the one most people reside in, a lot of smiling faces offer proof of the good care residents receive.