AREA BANDS IN TUNE FOR CLINTON VISIT

BENTON -- Students in Pat Morrow's government class at Kelly High School will get a civic lesson Friday they are not likely to forget.

About 60 students from the Benton high school will hear President Bill Clinton speak in Cape Girardeau.

"It's an educational experience and not all education takes place in the classroom," Morrow said.

Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and their wives will visit Cape Girardeau Friday. The group is expected to speak at about 1:30 p.m. at Capaha Park. State and local Democratic politicians also will attend.

The class of Kelly seniors began the school year by talking about the political conventions, so a presidential visit fits into the lessons.

"This is the most powerful man in the world," Morrow said. "He's not just a man. What makes this man different is that he has so much power."

But the power can be both good and bad. With so many derogatory comments being made about the presidency, students don't aspire to be president anymore, Morrow said.

"I think the media have brought him down to a human quality," she said. "And I don't know if that's good."

But Morrow and her students are excited about the visit. "I think they realize this is a once in a lifetime opportunity." It is the first time that Morrow will have seen a sitting president.

Students from Scott City, Oak Ridge, Chaffee and Delta schools will attend the rally. No exact count was given for the number of tickets available to student groups.

When the crowd gathers at the park Friday, about 500 students from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Farmington and Fredericktown and the Southeast Missouri State University Golden Eagles marching bands will entertain. The park gates open at 11:30 a.m.

"How often can you say, as a high school student, that you paid `Hail to the Chief'?" said Rachel Fayman, Missouri press secretary for Clinton-Gore '96.

The band students, many of whom wrapped their instruments in flag replicas, will play ceremonial and patriotic music at Capaha Park before the president speaks. Barry Bernhardt, a music professor at the university, is directing the bands.

"It's a nice way to greet the president," Bernhardt said. "It's a wonderful opportunity to perform for a president."

The band will play "ruffles and flourishes" before the president is announced and then will play "Hail to the Chief" when he arrives, Bernhardt said.

The students gathered Wednesday evening to rehearse.

Casey Ferden of Cape Girardeau knows the event will be a lifelong memory.

"It's something that I can tell my grandkids -- that I saw the president," Ferden said.

On Friday, the students will be dressed in uniform and mingled together on the stage. "It will be a great sound that way and a nice color shot for television," Bernhardt said.

The stop in Cape Girardeau will be Clinton's first after being renominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, so it will likely draw national media attention.