Detachment of Marine Corps League holds vigil at Freedom Corner

U.S. Marines stood sentry at Capaha Park's Freedom Corner on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

For Operation Guarding Liberty, an event organized by the Marine Corps League Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough Detachment 1081, uniformed members of the 3-year-old chapter walked continous sentry tours beginning at 8 a.m. The event ended at sunset with the lowering of the flag, firing of volleys and sounding of taps.

In all, 17 Marines were assigned to take an active part in the event.

"A lot of people have been driving by giving us the thumbs-up or a wave," said Jim Halstead while he was was preparing for sentry duty. "The protesters have been staying away. We may not like to hear what they have to say, but we served so they could say it."

Connie Bedell of Cape Girardeau came out to see her brother, Paul Steven, perform his duties as sergeant of the guard.

"This takes precedence over everything," she said. "My brother has been most devoted to this since the advent of 9-11."

His duty as sergeant of the guard is to determine the fitness of the next sentry, inspect the weapon and uniform, relieve the sentry and escort him out of the sentry area. The whole procedure takes about seven minutes.

Jeanette Winder of Jackson attended while her husband, Jim, served as a sentry in the morning and the afternoon.

"It's a great idea to support our troops this way," she said. "People drive by and thank the sentries."

Ronald Acord, planning officer of the event, said that "there have been several hundred people who have stopped by to spend a few minutes. The stream has been steady. One woman stopped by with a wreath of flowers. The Cape fire department came out to place symbolic turnout gear at the memorial."

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson spoke at the opening ceremony, laying a wreath at the feet of the Statue of Liberty replica. She spoke about "never forgetting the heroes of Sept. 11, the courage of that day and the patriotic pride that was rekindled by the kindness of Americans everywhere."

About 40 businesses have donated $10,500 to support Operation Guarding Liberty and help the league raise money to build a post home for Marines to gather. It will take several years to raise enough funds and plans are incomplete, league officials said, but the desired location is somewhere between Jackson and Cape Girardeau. The local detachment's goal is to recreate Tun Tavern, a Philadelphia brewing house built in 1685 that was the birthplace of the Marine Corps.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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