Hundreds of families participate in 'Soldier for a Day'

Families of National Guard soldiers deployed in Iraq turned out for a "Soldier for a Day" celebration in Cape Girardeau Saturday.

About 300 families from Southeast Missouri participated in the event at the Osage Community Centre that included an outdoor carnival featuring face painting, a dunking booth, bean bag toss and other games, as well as free food.

A local not-for-profit group, Operation Troop Support, helped put on the event. The organization, headed by local Vietnam War veteran Rodger Brown, has sent about 50 care packages of food, candy, soap and other items to Southeast Missouri area soldiers in Iraq since March.

Brown said it's costly to outfit and mail packages to the troops. He estimated the Cape Girardeau group, which has about 15 members, has spent about $2,000 on the effort.

But Brown isn't complaining. He said it's important for the public to support troops and their families.

On Saturday, he and several of the group's members wore T-shirts displaying the American flag and the phrase "We're all in this together."

Brown said it's both a personal and economic sacrifice for families of soldiers in Iraq. Families must make do with less money and cope with not having a father or mother at home, he said.

"I really miss my dad. I want him to come home," said Courtney Hudson, 13, whose father is with the National Guard in Cape Girardeau. His unit was deployed to Iraq earlier this year.

"We e-mail him every day," said Donna Hudson, Courtney's mother. "We'll be glad when it's all done and over with."

Donna Hudson said she hopes the approximately 500 members of the 1140th Engineer Battalion will be coming home next February after about a year's tour of duty.

Donna Hudson said the celebration helps boost the spirits of the families.

Counselors on handThe event, set up with the help of the family support center at the National Guard Armory in Cape Girardeau, also included local counselors who were on hand to talk to families who might need emotional support.

John Miller, who manages the family support center, said Saturday's event is one way to reach out to families of servicemen and servicewomen from throughout much of Southeast Missouri and provide them with information on community resources that could help them.

Carolyn Essner of New Hamburg appreciated the celebration. "I think it's a great event for the kids," she said. Essner has two daughters, 5 and 17, and a son, 13.

Her husband, Gerard, is in the National Guard in Iraq. Saturday's event, she said, demonstrates the public support for the troops.

"It's a good cause," said Debbie Rhodes-Hodge of Cape Girardeau, who dressed up as a clown and painted patriotic logos on children's faces.

Brown said the troops and their families need the help of everyone. "They are our neighbors. They are our friends," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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