Veterans group faces delay in memorial plans

Citing the need for more discussion and consultation with Cape Girardeau city officials, the Cape Girardeau County Commission put off consideration of a veterans group's request to put several war memorials on the lawn of the Common Pleas Courthouse.

The action came after Rodger Brown, president of the Trail of Tears Chapter of VietNow, criticized opposition to the plan as dishonoring veterans. VietNow had hoped to place a World War I memorial on the courthouse lawn during the city's Independence Day celebrations July 4, but making that deadline appears unlikely, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said.

Brown and seven other members of his group made a pitch for the memorial at the commission's regular Thursday meeting. Jones and Associate Commissioner Larry Bock decided to delay the approval while Associate Commissioner Jay Purcell was absent from the meeting.

Plans for a comprehensive memorial for each major U.S. war have been in the works for a year, since VietNow placed a Vietnam war memorial on the lawn last year, Brown said. The plan has been repeatedly discussed in several venues and in letters to local media.

Plans also include a World War II memorial, a Korean War memorial and an "Octagon of Honor" with 10-foot sides to honor the mothers of war veterans.

Opposition at this point is late and an attack on veterans, he said.

"We believe that delaying this placement and dedication undermines the honor and respect we are trying to pay our veterans, past and present," Brown told the commission.

Jones, however, noted that the county leases the courthouse and the surrounding park from the city and the large size of the memorial will require detailed discussions and approval from the city. Don McQuay, director of public works for the county, presented drawings showing that memorial would cover 26 feet of the lawn.

The first time he heard about the plans, Jones said, was Tuesday. There may be a more appropriate place for the memorials, Jones said.

"We need some more communication," he said. "We don't want to be involved in something that will bring all sorts of controversy. This is a good project and we want it to remain a good project."