Hundreds attend Valentine brunch

All the couples at the Arena Building on Wednesday had been married a long time, but Joe Lynn and Vesta Mae Meyer of Jackson had the exact time worked out -- 70 years, seven months and a day.

"It's been all good," said Joe Meyer, who married Vesta Mae on July 13, 1936.

His wife's secrets for staying together were simple: "Get along, keep busy, give and take, and pick your battles."

About 215 couples attended the annual Schnucks Valentine's Day brunch. Couples were recognized from 50 years of marriage up to 71 years, with couples for every year except 69. Store manager Dennis Marchi has seen 22 of the 30 affairs. Early Valentine brunches were held at the store, he said, but as they grew they moved to the Drury Lodge. The event has been held at the Arena Building for about six years.

New to the half-century group of select couples were Barbara and Bill Port of Cape Girardeau, married 50 years Oct. 20.

"We celebrated with a tour of the northeast states to see the fall colors," Barbara Port said. "We told the children early on about our plans so they knew we wouldn't be around. They'd had a big party for our 40th anniversary."

The majority of the crowd, dressed in various shades of red, were veterans of World War II or the Korean War or were spouses of veterans. They were recognized for their military service.

The couples were entertained by Mike Dumey and two Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School students, Brodrick Twiggs and Katherine Rollins, who performed "Me" from their upcoming production of the Broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast." Dumey sang several numbers,

Retired Schnucks manager Paul Harper entertained the crowd by giving dollar bills for guessing his age and answering trivia questions.

The crowd was mainly made up of couples from Cape Girardeau and Jackson, but a few couples traveled 40 or more miles to attend the brunch. Traveling the farthest were Barbara and Earl Toler of Coldwater, Mo., in Wayne County. This was the fifth year they attended the brunch.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133