Flags, fireworks and freedom

Starting at Cape Rock Drive, down Perryville Road all the way to Broadway in Cape Girardeau, about 200 flags stood on both sides of the street for Independence Day.

Melissa Wischmann said she and her mother set them up every year to show their patriotism. They started with 500 flags Tuesday night and had about 50 left Wednesday. The others were put up in Jackson.

It was only one demonstration for the Fourth of July this year in Southeast Missouri. The people at Jackson City Park and downtown Cape Girardeau celebrated the holiday in other ways.

Jackson's Independence Day celebration started at 7:30 a.m. with the annual Independence Day 5K Run. Then about 200 cars were on display during the car show at the city park, according to Jackson's parks and recreation director Shane Anderson. Throughout the afternoon, children jumped around in an inflatable dragon and castle, knocked down bowling pins and shot hoops in booths that were set up for the event.

Crowds on the Courthouse hill applauded after the Cape Municipal Band opened their concert with the Star-Spangled Banner on Wednesday, July 4, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

A popular attraction this year was a pony ride put on by the Christ Gospel Church in Millersville. Cheryl Newell, who helped host the event, said it was a good turnout but didn't have a tally. The proceeds will help sponsor retreats for church youths, she said.

Meanwhile Ian Wille of Jackson demonstrated the art of blacksmithing. He displayed metal items such as feathers and nails that he created. "They don't serve any real purpose, but it's not something you see that much anymore," he said.

Wille is going to Southern Illinois University in the fall to study blacksmithing as part of the college's art program. "It's just my passion. I know I'm supposed to do it," he said.

About 4:30 p.m., people were leaving the festivities to get out of the sun, but Anderson suspected they'd be back for the fireworks display later in the evening, which was on schedule because no rain was in the forecast this year.

"It's been a peaceful Fourth," said Lt. Chris Mouser of the Jackson Police Department, who helped man the mobile command post at the park.

At Libertyfest in Cape Girardeau in the evening, the music from the corner of Spanish and Themis streets drew the biggest crowd before the fireworks display. People sat on the terraces all the way up to the fountain on Lorimier Street.

Miss Missouri USA Amber Seyer, left, congratulates the second runner-up in Oran's Junior Miss Fourth of July as remaining contestants wait for further results. (Kit Doyle)

John Hill, 84, of Cape Girardeau, sat parallel to the bands, dressed like Uncle Sam. He ordered his costume for the Fourth of July.

When the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band performed the national anthem, Hill took his red, white and blue top hat off and sang the vocals over the instrumentation.

"It's good to be alive," he said after the song had ended.

Behind the band on Themis Street, Mary Johnson, owner of Memories Made in Missouri, stayed open until just after the fireworks display, and kept a steady stream of business, mostly selling sodas and ice cream. Her husband, Gary, sold popcorn outside the store and had a continuous single-file line of customers for most of the evening.

Down on the riverfront, another crowd lined the Mississippi River. Strolling fiddler Steve Schaffner and his daughter, Charlotte, both returning Libertyfest performers, serenaded the audience.

AdaLee Hasenkamp, right, confirms a bingo with caller Mark Asmus at the Oran Fourth of July Picnic on Wednesday. (Kit Doyle)

"Our strategy is to just look for someone who needs music," said Steve Schaffner, who played the violin while Charlotte played the guitar and sang.

Friends Phillis Lukerfahr and Barb Johnson sat on their lawn chairs facing the river and enjoyed the music.

"They thought we were good-looking women," said Johnson, when explaining why the musicians stopped to play for them.

The two remember going to most of the Libertyfests in Cape Girardeau, usually just for the fireworks display. This year they camped out a little earlier.

While people celebrated their freedom, the serious side of the holiday was not forgotten.

Crowds gathered on the Common Pleas Courthouse terraces to listen to the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band and watch fireworks on the Mississippi River Wednesday, July 4, 2007, in downtown Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

Earlier in the day, members of the American Legion rededicated Freedom Corner at Broadway and West End Boulevard to veterans, according to Rodger Brown, president of the local chapter of VietNow. He said that new bricks were recently laid in honor of the people who have died in service to the country.

tkrakowiak@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137