SALT memorial set for Friday morning

About 300 people are expected to attend the annual Seniors and Lawmen Together law enforcement memorial scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Cape County Park North.

The annual public event recognizes the 48 Southeast Missouri law enforcement personnel, including five Cape Girardeau police officers and one Cape Girardeau County sheriff, who were killed in the line of duty, Jackson police chief James Humphreys said.

"We honor the fallen. We'll never forget them. This is our way of showing that," Humphreys said.

The event coincides with National Police Week, which begins Friday. The memorial is an annual effort coordinated by Seniors and Lawmen Together. SALT serves as an advisory council to Cape Girardeau, Jackson and county law enforcement and social service agencies to address personal safety matters related to seniors.

The 2012 event will have a presentation by the Cape Girardeau Police Department Color Guard, presentations of winners of Southeast Missourian coloring, poetry and essay contest winners and a keynote speech by Frank Nickell, Southeast Missouri State University's director of the Center of Regional History.

"I think it's significant because it is intended to bring law enforcement and the public together on common goals and common objectives," Nickell said. "I will talk about greater appreciation by the public of law enforcement officers and the sacrifices they make in the line of duty."

Organizers will recognize Graesan Meystedt, 12, John Paul Schuchardt, 12, and Madison Arpin, 12, for their essays; Lauren Brown, 8, Claire Southard, 9, and Nick Williams, 9, for their poetry; and Connor Ritter, 7, Stella Wright, 7, Victoria Hurley, 7, and Alexa DeLuca, 8, for coloring.

"Winners of contests for essays and poems come up and read their work," Humphreys said. "They get to ride in the police car to the memorial event."

Organizers of the event will conduct a final roll call of the fallen personnel, which will be broadcast over law enforcement radios.

jgamm@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO