SUPPORT PARADED AT LOCAL RALLY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Pride in the American military showed itself in full force Saturday as a large gathering participated in an Operation Desert Storm support rally here.

Ian Sutherland, a retired army colonel, told those present to "be proud that you're an American" and to show their support to the area men and women serving in the Persian Gulf area.

Prior to the rally, an estimated 450 to 500 persons marched, walked and rode in a parade from Freedom Corner in Capaha Park to Arena Park, where the rally was held.

The parade and rally was presented by the Joint Veterans Council and the City of Cape Girardeau.

Sutherland, who served in the army's 82nd Airborne Special Forces Division in the 1950s, followed by a tour of duty in Vietnam, is an assistant prosecuting attorney for Cape Girardeau County.

He noted the sharp turnaround in public attitude and support of American military forces.

"I want to tell you something," he told the gathering. "For the past 20 years, Americans have been fed the story that we're the problem in this world, that nobody in this world seems to have problems except us, and that by virtue of being Americans, we automatically take a boot in the rear every time we get close to somebody. But that has changed."

Sutherland compared Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to a boxer laying flat on his back in the ring, with the referee up to the eight count.

"Now, he wants to negotiate a draw?" Sutherland asked. "Forget it! There is no reason in the world for us to talk now. We've got the forces present, and as Gen. George Patton once said, We didn't send 'em (Americans) over there so they could give their lives for their country. We sent them over there to give the Iraqis the wonderful opportunity to sacrifice their lives for their country."

Despite the overwhelming odds, Sutherland said he would not bank on Hussein withdrawing from Kuwait, or that Desert Storm will be a "walk-over" for the allies.

"What these people there need is your unswerving support," said Sutherland. "Don't lose heart, don't lose faith, don't lose your morale.

"You're not going to hear much good come from the press; you're not going to hear much good come from anybody except the people that are fighting there, because it's something that we have to do."

Sutherland said nobody wants to fight a war in the Persian Gulf, "so don't personalize it. Nobody has a stake in the war, personally. But we as Americans have got a stake in that war."

Looking at the crowd holding American flags and other symbols of support for the U.S. forces, Sutherland recalled another war, and said, "I see something here that I would have loved to have seen in '66, '67, '69, in '70, '72, and '73."

Sutherland and two other members of a parachute club jumped from an airplane into Arena Park prior to the start of the rally. "I thought I would need that parachute jump to get the adrenalin going this morning so that I could speak with a certain amount of passion and conviction," he said, "but looking at this crowd, I didn't need it. You are all great!"

Sutherland ended his remarks by asking Marlene Glenn to come to the podium and sing with him and the audience the national anthem.

Also speaking at the rally was Melody Hutson of Cape Girardeau, Mrs. Missouri 1991 and a military wife and mother.

Hutson's husband is now serving with the Navy in the Persian Gulf, and her daughter left for Saudi Arabia last week. "To know that you are supporting them will mean a lot to them," said Hutson.

She said the recall to active duty has been a learning experience for everyone.

"We knew it would affect the lives of those being asked to serve our country but few of us realized how severely it would affect the families and dependents left behind. We want you to be aware of what these families are going through," she added.

Hutson said spouses of those serving in Desert Storm must deal with the absence of their loved ones, "plus they have to deal with their children who have learned the first lesson of loss."

Besides the emotional effect, Hutson said the call-up has had a financial impact on those left behind. "Nothing has changed. These families still have the same expenses, but some have suffered as much as a half-cut in income, and they now find themselves unable to cover their normal living expenses," she explained.

Hutson said the newly formed Desert Storm Support Task Force is now ready to assist the families and dependents of those who have been called to active duty in the Cape Girardeau area.

"Because of these wonderful people, the burdens of the families left behind will be lightened," she said.

Serving as emcee was Marine Corps sergeant and Vietnam War veteran, Ron MacCubbin of Jackson.

"I can't tell you how much we as veterans appreciate you being here this morning," said MacCubbin in his closing remarks. "It is very important to those men in the field that they know that the people at home love them and care about them, and support their efforts."

Noting the dissent that has developed to Operation Desert Storm, MacCubbin said, "There are always dissenters, but as any of us veterans will tell you, that's what we fought for ... their right to dissent. Many of our brothers and sisters gave up their lives over the years for the right of people in the United States to have that freedom."

MacCubbin said Saturday's rally is a piece of Americana that is happening in big cities and small towns across America.

"You're just a small part of a large movement to show these people that we care and that we love them," he concluded.