DAV WILL GIVE $1,000 FOR FREEDOM CORNER RENOVATION

The brick pillars of Freedom Corner are $1,000 closer to their original stature of 1942.

The $1,000, donated by the Disabled American Veterans, will help the Cape Girardeau American Legion Post 63 renovate the war memorial that adorns the entrance of Capaha Park.

Although the memorial has been repaired before, the American Legion decided the mending wasn't enough and in early April embarked on a $5,000 fund-raising effort to rebuild the memorial brick-by-brick and eagle-by-eagle.

Herb Nance, the legion's former commander, estimates that $4,500 has been raised so far. This includes the DAV's donation, a $500 donation from the Cape Girardeau Veterans of Foreign Wars and separate donations from individuals within the community.

"The DAV is really a small outfit and they should get some recognition for this sizable contribution," Nance said.

The American Legion will give the project an estimated date of completion when Charles Woodford, the restoration committee chair, returns from a trip next week. Efforts to dismantle the memorial should begin immediately and the project should be completed as soon as possible, Nance said.

The bricklayer's union will provide volunteer labor to rebuild the brick pillars that were built in the summer of 1942 to honor Cape Girardeau County men and women who served in World War II.

The four eagles, which have sat atop the two center pillars since Feb. 3, 1943, and the two side pillars since 1990, were removed in mid-April.

Although Nance is unsure what will be done with the original birds, he said the legion is considering getting four new eagles.

"One of the eagles has been damaged and we don't think it's worth repairing for our use," he said.

The plaques, containing the names of Cape County residents who have been killed or who were missing in action during World War I, World War II and the Vietnam and Korean wars, have been removed and will be refinished.