TRIBUTES OFFERED TO AREA VETS

Each veteran is a hero to someone, said a speaker at one of several Veterans Day programs held Thursday.

Activities around the area were meant to make those heroes feel special.

From a program at Cape Girardeau Central High School to a ceremony at Capaha Park to an Avenue of Flags at Cape Girardeau County Park to a parade in Jackson, veterans were praised and thanked for serving their country and helping preserve freedom."During both war and peace, our nation's veterans have helped to preserve the fundamental rights guaranteed in the United States Constitution," Julia Jorgensen, a librarian at Central High School, said during "A Tribute to Veterans" held at the school. "Thanks to their efforts, Americans enjoy the blessings of peace and freedom."The program, sponsored by the school's Renaissance Club, featured patriotic and nostalgic music and readings that offered tribute to those who had served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Shield-Desert Storm. The program also recognized veterans who served in peacetime and people who had family members serve in the military, especially those whose loved ones were killed in action.

Jorgensen organized the first Cape Central Veterans Day program five years ago as a tribute to her father, who was a veteran of World War II."I recognized through my father's eyes that we didn't do enough for veterans in this town," she said. So she has worked to involve high-school students in the program ever since."It gives students a chance to honor and pay back veterans," Jorgensen said. "We love to see the expressions of the faces of the veterans and guests. They are so grateful we are doing something for them."Roy Rhodes is one of those grateful vets. Rhodes, a veteran of the Vietnam War, has been to the high-school presentation each of its five years."Many times Veterans Day is just vets honoring vets," Rhodes said. "We appreciate the great job these kids do."Jerry Jenkins, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, also has attended the high- school program all five years. "It means a lot that these kids give their time and efforts to honor veterans on this special day," he said.

Both men also attended the Veterans Day ceremony at Freedom Corner in Capaha Park led by American Legion Post 63. Their post commander, Jerry Stauber, led a program in which four veterans made remarks.

Thomas Giles explained how the holiday began as Armistice Day to mark the anniversary of the ending of World War I. But when World War II began, the day was renamed Veterans Day to honor all those who served in all wars, Giles said."It's a day to honor those who have heeded our nation's call to defend our freedom," Giles said.

Ron MacCubbin reminded the more than 100 people in attendance of the commitment and sacrifice of veterans who "were willing to risk all for what they believe is right."John Ferguson said such ceremonies prove that the community has not forgotten its Korean veterans.

Burt Lehman said Vietnam veterans sacrificed themselves for their country just as veterans in other wars did before them. "We have much to be proud of," he said.

The United States flag was on display in front of homes and businesses throughout the area in honor of Veterans Day, but probably the most impressive collection was at Cape Girardeau County Park, where Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 assembled 272 flags in its Avenue of Flags.

Each flag represents a deceased veteran from the area whose last name begins with letters A through L, said Jenkins, the post commander. Flags honoring those whose names begin with letters M through Z will be flown on Memorial Day, he said.

Jenkins said about 50 volunteers from the veterans organizations, Boy Scouts, police and fire departments set up the flags at 5:30 a.m. Thursday."Today is a day to honor all veterans, living and deceased," Jenkins said."We need to remember why we honor the veterans," said Staff Sgt. Gwyndolyn Wilkins, an Army recruiter in Cape Girardeau. "We would not have the society we have, there would be no teachers or doctors or nurses without the support of our armed services," she said.