Crowd at Cape mall prays for U.S. troops

MICHAEL MACOR * San Francisco Chronicle

A U.S. Marine was carried on stretcher to a waiting ambulance after sustaining injuries in an Iraqi attack, Sunday. Several Marines were injured when their armored personnel carrier was hit by an Iraqi rocket-propelled grenade outside the city of Nasiriyah.By Callie Clark ~ Southeast Missourian

Clutching a photo of her son, a captain in the U.S. Air Force, Cape Girardeau resident Nan Robinson listened proudly as the names of more than 100 local enlisted men and women were read aloud Sunday at the Court of Honor in Westfield Shoppingtown West Park.

"This has been a wonderful tribute to those fighting for our country, fighting for peace," said Robinson, whose 29-year-old son, Capt. John Robinson, is currently stationed at Aviano Air Base in Italy. "My son is in God's hands. If anything happens to him, I know it will have been for a wonderful cause."

While the war in Iraq continued in full force Sunday, around 75 people, many garbed in red, white and blue, gathered at the Court of Honor at the mall for a community prayer service sponsored by the Jackson and Cape Girardeau ministerial alliances.

Ministers from local churches offered up prayers for the men and women serving in the military as well as world leaders. A large display of construction-paper flags, letters and cards, most written by local children to soldiers stationed overseas, served as a backdrop for the service.

Among the names of local service men and women called aloud were Laura and Ray Garcia, the daughter and son-in-law of Fruitland resident Deborah Griffin.

"Everybody praying together, it's the most important thing we can do right now," said Griffin, who brought her another daughter and granddaughter with her to the service.

The Garcias are stationed at an Air Force base in Las Vegas but have been told they may be deployed at any time, Griffin said.

"It makes you insane," Griffin said. "That constant, day-to-day waiting for the call telling you they're going overseas."

Most of those in attendance at the service had relatives serving in the military or were veterans themselves.

World War II veteran Gaylan Friesenborg placed a protective arm around his wife, Leona, and 11-year-old grandson, Bryndon, as the group sang "God Bless America."

"I was so glad to see these people gathered here," Leona Friesenborg said. "It's important for families to have this outlet."

The Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church, offered a prayer for the nation's military and their families.

"People came here today to share the burden of concern about the war and those who serve our nation," Smith said."It seems to me God has a way of taking our burdens and helping us express them in a positive way."

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128