Cape County asked to help promote new Stars & Stripes region

This story is updated from its original version.

Cape Girardeau County was asked Monday, Sept. 25, to make a $2,500 quarterly commitment to not-for-profit Stars & Stripes Historic Region Foundation -- after authorizing legislation this spring approving creation of the 26-county area, plus the city of St. Louis, passed the Missouri General Assembly.

Jim W. Martin of Perryville, Missouri, identified as a "foundation facilitator," presented documentation to the County Commission and said all government entities in the region will be asked to participate financially and also provide a county liaison "to promote, enhance, celebrate and encourage the inculcation of the awe-inspiring history, heritage and God-given beauty of our nation's and Missouri's incomparable Stars & Stripes Historic Region."

Martin said, among other things, the foundation plans to use provided funds to secure standard and digital billboards.

"Those billboards are in the process of going up right now at all the major entry points to the region," said Martin, a Vietnam veteran, who added that the increased attention to the region has a goal of boosting tourism and educating younger people.

Perry and Scott counties are being asked to chip in $2,000 and $950, respectively, on a quarterly basis.

Of note

• House Bill 130, introduced by Jefferson City Republican Rep. Dave Griffith, originally left Cape Girardeau County out of the designated Stars & Stripes Historic Region, an error Griffith corrected before the measure went up for a unanimous 157-0 vote in the state House.
• Language in Griffith's final version of the bill includes the city of St. Louis and the following counties along the Interstate 55 corridor for recognition: Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Crawford, Dent, Shannon, Oregon, Ste. Genevieve, Washington, St. Francois, Madison, Iron, Perry, Wayne, Reynolds, Bollinger, Scott, Mississippi, Stoddard, Ripley, Butler, Carter, New Madrid, Pemiscot and Dunklin.

Response

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy, a 1996 U.S. Naval Academy graduate who continues to serve as commanding officer of the Naval Reserves Fleet Logistics Center in Yokosuka, Japan, said the county will "await further information" about the foundation's plans.

"Cape County historically has been very supportive of veterans," he said.

Stars & Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, Missouri, honors the 1861 founding of the Stars & Stripes newspaper following a Civil War battle in the state.

NOTE: Stars & Stripes Historic Region is not part of the Stars & Stripes Museum and Jim Martin represents only the historic region and is not affiliated with the museum.