HONORING OUR HEAROES; FREEDOM CORNER DEDICATION PLANNED

New brick columns at Freedom Corner in Cape Girardeau's Capaha Park, will be rededicated Tuesday as part of Veterans' Day ceremonies in the area.

In addition to the rededication ceremony, Cape Girardeau County veterans are invited to walk in a five-block parade Tuesday morning.

Before the parade, a tribute will be held at Central High School, and at 5 p.m. in Jackson, a Veterans' Day parade and program will be held.

Area veterans are invited to assemble at Pacific and Broadway at 10 a.m. to walk down Broadway to Freedom Corner.

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will perform from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

The Joint Veterans Council will hold the ceremony at Freedom Corner starting at 11 a.m. At that time, church and university bells will peal for five minutes, a traditional observance of Veterans' Day.

H. Burton Lehman, commander of American Legion Post 63, will deliver the Veterans' Day address.

At Freedom Corner, four new columns are identical to crumbling brick posts at the spot. The original columns succumbed to time and weather.

In addition to new columns, the corner has new granite contemplation benches, a new flagpole, concrete aprons around the column foundations, new bronze medallions on the columns and in the near future spotlights will be installed to illuminate the columns.

Restoration of Freedom Corner was started by The American Legion Post 63, but many people participated with monetary and in-kind donations. The Bricklayers Local 23, Carpenters Local 1770, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1 and a number of local businesses participated.

"They have just done a wonderful job," said Charles Woodford, chairman of the Joint Veterans Council.

Volunteer labor, Woodford said, was key to the project's success. "I don't think we could have raised enough money to pay for labor," he said.

Central High Tribute

Before the parade begins, veterans are invited to a tribute at Central High School, which starts at 9 a.m. sponsored by the school's Renaissance program.

Julia Jorgensen, sponsor, said the program at Central High will conclude in time for individuals to attend the program at Freedom Corner.

The parking lot off Independence near the gyms and auditorium will be reserved for guests. Typically 800 attend the tribute.

"We are hoping the Gold Star mothers and Purple Heart recipients and veterans from all the different wars, along with peace-time veterans, will attend," Jorgensen said.

Inez Smith, Jorgensen's senior English teacher at Central High, helped plan parts of this year's ceremony. She suggested that the names of Central High graduates who died under enemy fire should be read.

Tuesday's ceremony marks the first time since the end of World War II for the names to be read. The names of those who died in Korea and Vietnam never have been read in this type of ceremony, Jorgensen said.

A new ceremony honoring POW and MIAs will be conducted by Dr. Dan Tallent, superintendent. Tallent also serves in the Missouri National Guard.

During the program, students and faculty members will perform, including a selection of songs from the Korean War era. Students will also read tributes.

Weather permitting, 20 large flags will fly in front of the school. In addition, several pieces of military equipment will be on display in the school yard from the Missouri National Guard.

"When you crest the hill on that day you will know something is happening," Jorgensen said.

Students are collecting items for the American Red Cross to be sent to troops in Bosnia. Items like small games and playing cards, paperback books, hard candy, cookies, packages of hot chocolate, hot cider, teas, coffee, microwave popcorn and peanuts in the shell are requested.

Jorgensen attended a national Renaissance conference over the summer, one of 700 participants. Central High was the only school to hold a Veterans' Day tribute.

Representatives from several other high schools will be on hand Tuesday to see the production.

Jackson events

The annual Veterans' Day Parade will begin at 5 p.m. at Jackson Frozen Food Locker on High Street. The parade will travel on High Street to Main Street to Russell Street and then to the Jackson High School auditorium.

Music will be provided by the New McKendree Methodist Choir, and Capt. Kenneth C. McManaman of the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps will speak.

McManaman recently finished a tour of duty as the commanding officer of a Naval Reserve Law Unit in St. Louis. He currently is assigned to the Naval Reserve Trial Judiciary Activity, where he serves as a Naval Reserve Military Judge. He has 26 years of service with the Naval Reserve.

McManaman practices law with the firm of O'Loughlin, O'Loughlin and McManaman in Cape Girardeau.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Cape Girardeau Central High School

9 a.m. reception for students, veterans and guests, old gym.

9:45 a.m. Tribute to Veterans, auditorium. Includes reading of names of Central High graduates who died under enemy fire, a MIA ceremony

Items will be collected for troops in Bosnia.

Freedom Corner, Capaha Park

10 a.m. Veterans assemble at Broadway and Pacific.

10:15 a.m. Veterans' Walk to Freedom Corner.

10:30 a.m. Patriotic music by Cape Girardeau Municipal Band.

10:55 a.m. Post Colors by VFW Color Guard.

11 a.m. Church and university bells ring for 5 minutes.

11:05 a.m. Veterans' Day ceremony, including rededication of Freedom Corner and 21 gun salute. Speaker is H. Burton Lehman, commander of American Legion Post 63.

Jackson

5 p.m. Jackson Veterans' Day Parade, begins at Jackson Frozen Food Locker.

Following the parade, a program will be held at Jackson High School Auditorium with Capt. Kenneth C. McManaman, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, speaking.