CITY'S FREEDOM CORNER REDEDICATED

Kirk Miller, a junior at Cape Girardeau Central High School, performed "America the Beautiful" on cello during the school's Veterans Day assembly program Tuesday.

Veterans, their families, school children and others gathered around four rebuilt brick pillars at Cape Girardeau's Freedom Corner Tuesday to honor men and women of the military.

Freedom Corner was rededicated as part of Veterans Day ceremonies. Events to honor veterans were held at Cape Girardeau Central High School and in Jackson.

Freedom Corner stands as a symbol that freedom is not free, said Burt Lehman, commander of American Legion Post 63.

The brick columns honor 203 soldiers from Cape Girardeau County who died in service to their country.

After more than 50 years, the brick pillars were crumbling and beyond repair. To leave the monument to decay would dishonor the memory of the veterans it is meant to honor, Lehman said.

So members of the American Legion launched a project to restore Freedom Corner. "It quickly became a community project," Lehman said.

He credited Charles Woodford and Herb Nance for the work they did to bring the project to completion.

The new columns will "proudly stand for years to come for what it means to be free," Lehman said.

In addition to the new columns, a new flag pole and new granite contemplation benches have been placed at the corner. New bronze medallions have been placed on the columns. Concrete aprons surround the column foundations.

Two of four eagles are back in place on top of the pillars. The other two will be returned soon.

"Today we return these memorial columns and Freedom Corner to the citizens of Cape County so their memories shall never fade," said Tom Giles, also with the American Legion. "Please come and visit occasionally."

Before the rededication ceremony, students and staff at Central High School also held a Veterans Day tribute.

Drawing on the talents of students and faculty members, the program honored veterans from all wars from the Revolutionary War through the Persian Gulf War and veterans of the peace-time military also.

A brass band played patriotic music, students read tributes and the chamber choir performed.

The names of 65 Central High graduates who died under enemy fire were read. Names hadn't been read since the end of World War II.

In similar fashion, Freedom Corner grew from a decision to honor Cape Girardeau County men and women who were serving in World War II.

In mid-summer 1942, Cape Girardeans gathered at the corner of what is now Capaha Park to dedicate four brick pillars holding two large honor roll boards. The honor rolls listed names of 1,295 men and women who were serving in the armed forces.

By November 1944, the number of names grew to more than 3,700. Gold stars alongside 60 of the names indicated individuals who died in the war.

After the war, the honor rolls were removed. On May 30, 1950, the first of the memorial plaques was dedicated to honor Cape Girardeau County servicemen killed or missing in action during World War II. Since then plaques have been added honoring those from the county who died in World War I, Korea and Vietnam.

Also in 1950, a replica of the Statue of Liberty was presented to the city by the Boy Scouts. The corner of Capaha Park became known as Freedom Corner.

The corner was refurbished and rededicated in 1990. Two concrete eagles were added to the other pillars during a rededication ceremony in 1990.