AREA TO HONOR THOSE WHO SACRIFICED ALL

Americans will pause Monday to remember and pay tribute to veterans of all wars who served their county in time of war and peace, and to those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the defense of their country.

The National Weather Service said the Memorial Day weekend should be rain-free, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the 70s and low 80s in the Cape Girardeau area.

Memorial Day programs are scheduled Monday in Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Scott City, and Chaffee.

In Cape Girardeau, the Joint Veterans Council of Cape Girardeau will sponsor their annual Memorial Day Program at 11 a.m. at the Veteran's Memorial in Cape County North Park on North Kingshighway.

The color guard, comprised of members of VFW Post 3838 of Cape Girardeau, will post the colors.

The featured speaker is U.S. Army Lt. Colonel (retired) Ian Sutherland, assistant Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney.

Lee Jones and Bob Harper will play echoing Taps following the program. The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will perform from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

The Avenue of Flags at the Veteran's Memorial in the park will be on display Monday, according to Calvin Vogelsang of VFW Post 3838 of Cape Girardeau.

Vogelsang said the flags will be put up around 6:30 a.m., and will remain up until 6:30 p.m.

He said that because of a lack of space along the avenue and limited manpower, only 233 of the 439 flags will be flown on Memorial Day.

"Flags with last names ending with letters A through L will be on display Monday," Vogelsang said. "Those with last names ending with letters M through Z will be on display at the memorial on July Fourth."

The Memorial Day program in Jackson will begin at 9 a.m. at the entrance to the Jackson City Cemetery on South High Street.

The program is sponsored by the Jackson Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 and auxiliary

This year's speaker will be the Rev. Grant Gillard, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson. The Jackson Municipal Band will perform from 9-9:30 a.m.

The Kelso Township Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6407 and auxiliary of Scott City will hold their Memorial Day program in the Lightner Cemetery, beginning at 11 a.m.

The Rev. Brant V. Hazlett, rector of Christ Episcopal Church of Cape Girardeau will be the speaker.

Diane Stephens will provide vocal music, Shawn Sanford will sound Assembly and blow Taps. Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 29 in Scott City will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members of Chaffee VFW Post 3127 and ladies auxiliary will assemble in Circle Park, at noon Monday for a flag-raising ceremony and the laying of a wreath in honor of deceased veterans.

A prayer service will honor those who have died in the service of their country. The public is invited to join with the VFW members in the ceremony.

The Lindsey Cemetery Association of McClure, Ill., will conduct its annual Memorial Day program at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lindsey Cemetery on the Grape Vine Trail Road, two miles east of McClure. The guest speaker is Col. Robert Jackson, vice commander of the 178th Fighter Group, Ohio Air National Guard, at Springfield, Ohio.

All municipal, county, state and federal offices will be closed Monday.

Public and parochial schools still in session in the area will be closed Monday. Offices on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University will be closed, and there will be no summer classes at the university Monday.

License fee offices at Cape Girardeau and Jackson will be closed Saturday, May 28, and on Memorial Day. The license fee office at Chaffee will be closed on Monday.

There will be no drivers license exams given Monday at the National Guard Armory in Jackson. All banks and financial institutions will be closed on Monday.

There will be no home delivery of mail or mail put up in post office boxes on Monday, however express and special delivery mail will be delivered.

The collection of mail in drop boxes in Cape Girardeau will be at the posted times on Saturday. The next pickup of mail will be at regular posted times Monday evening.

There will be no pick up of solid waste in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, or Scott City on Monday.

In Cape Girardeau, the Monday solid waste route will be Tuesday, Tuesday's routes will run Wednesday, and there will be no Wednesday special pickup on June 1.

In Jackson, the Monday solid waste routes will be consolidated with Tuesday's routes.

In Scott City, the Monday trash route will be run Tuesday, and Tuesday's route will run on Wednesday.

The Memorial Day weekend begins at 6 p.m. tonight and ends at midnight Monday.

The Missouri Highway Patrol and Illinois State Police will participate in Operation CARE (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) throughout the holiday period.

Patrol cars will be traveling on the highways to raise the public awareness of traffic safety. Extra officers will be on duty to enforce all traffic laws -- alcohol and drug related offenses, maximum speed limits, and seatbelt and child restraint laws.

In 1993, 10 people were killed and 783 injured in traffic crashes over the Memorial Day period.