SCHOOL HAS SUPPORT FOR U.S. FORCES

MORLEY -- Kindergarteners and World War II veterans, toddlers and high school seniors, parents and teachers stood together waving American flags and showing support for the men and women serving in the Persian Gulf during a ceremony at Scott County Central Schools Tuesday.

In addition to flag waving and patriotic marches, the ceremony included a roll call of the 16 persons serving in the gulf with family members at the school.

As red, white and blue balloons, representing the service men and women from Scott County Central, drifted out of sight, Judy Cook said, "We're pretty proud of our young men and women, and they will all come back home safe."

Cook, who has worked at Scott County Central School for the past 25 years, knew each of the 16 service men and women honored Tuesday. Her own son, Barry, is serving in the gulf also.

"Barry is mine, but I consider them all mine," she said.

Betty Deardorff, high school counselor, said she has been talking with students about the war during the past several weeks.

"The students are concerned and many have been touched directly," she said.

"The faculty felt we needed to show support for our graduates and for the people who have someone over there," Deardorff said.

"It was a touching ceremony," Deardorff said. "I had to keep from crying."

"It was very sentimental," said senior Mendy Payne. Her uncle is serving in the gulf.

"With my uncle over there, it makes me want to cry," she said.

Payne added that students at the school have spent a lot of time discussing events in the Persian Gulf.

"We usually talk about it every hour. A lot of guys are afraid that the draft will be started. A ceremony like this today really gets you thinking about that.

"But I think it also shows the support people here have. You don't see any anti-war people around here."

The featured guest was Danny Ware, a 1985 Scott County Central graduate, who serves in the Navy.

"In my six years in the Navy, I've been asked to speak a lot of places," Ware told the group. "This was the hardest to get ready for and the one I'm most honored by."

He is stationed in Norfolk, Va. Ware is on special assignment at the Sikeston Naval Recruiting office.

"Although the men and women serving in the gulf are attracting more of the focus now," Ware told the gathering, "they are not the only ones who are patriotic. It is not necessary to have your life on the line every day to be considered a patriot.

"Those at home who raise the flag every day or who display yellow ribbons or who shed a tear of fear or concern for the men and women serving this country are also patriots.

"Many places today, people are protesting what the country is doing in the gulf," Ware said. "If those same people were protesting in Iraq, there is a good chance they would be shot for treason.

"Their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are the same rights that allow us to gather here today," Ware said.

After the ceremony, Ware said, "This meant a lot to me. Being asked to come and speak at my old school is quite an honor. And it was a nice ceremony. It helps a lot for us to know we have support back home."

Ware said orders may come any day that his ship will be sent to the Persian Gulf. "You just never know until the orders arrive," he said.

Frances Blissett, whose daughter, Selista Blissett Dockery, is serving in the gulf, said: "I thought this was really nice. I'm sure it was a challenge to organize it. But it makes me feel better. I don't feel so alone because all these people here are standing for the same cause.

"I think all schools should do this."

Julie Rodgers, a freshman at the school, said: "It's nice that everybody got together do to something to show support. It made me feel better that everyone is supporting my dad and the other service men and women."

Her father, Kenneth Rodgers, is in California preparing to be deployed to the gulf. Her aunt is already in the gulf.

Paula Childers' husband, Ken, is also serving in the gulf. "It's nice that the school thinks enough about the people over there to show this kind of support. And it's nice to see something positive instead of people protesting."