VETERANS HOME RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS

Vergie Templeton and Ralph Chitty were named volunteers of the year for the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Templeton and Chitty were among hundreds of volunteers were honored during the annual Volunteer Appreciation Night dinner April 3.

The veterans they serve represent nearly 1,000 years of active service in military service and participation in nearly 2,000 land, sea and air battles from World War I through Vietnam. Some are in the home as a result of wounds suffered in those battles.

The selection of volunteers of the year is made by fellow volunteers with significant hours of service. In addition to secret nominations, eight other criteria are used in making the selection, such as continuous service, congeniality and leadership.

Templeton has served 3,383 hours through the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Chitty, serving through the American Legion and the Masonic Service Association, has 1,829 hours.

Veterans Home volunteers deliver ice and water, deliver mail, operate the canteen and information desk, assist with outings and in-house activities, make personal visits and help in many other ways.

Since the opening of the home in the spring of 190, 166,364 volunteer house have been served through Dec. 31, 1997. The first fully ear the home was open, 15,770 hours were served. The 1997 total was 24,845.

Veterans Home volunteers are awarded a pin with a 100 hour bar when the pass that number. New hour bars are awarded when additional 100-hour milestones are reached.

Two volunteers have over 4,000 hours, Barbara Yallaly with 4,805 and Euil Trickey with 4,802.

Two have over 3,000 hours, Agnes Bendel with 3,924 and Templeton.

With over 2,000 hours are Freida Howard with 2,612 and Hal Scowden with 2,008.

Volunteers with 1,000 to 2,000 hours are Louis Birkman Jr., 1,930; Naomi McClard, 1,865; Chitty; James "Rex" Haynes, 1,800; Harry Humphry, 1,619; Chester Herrington, 1,488; Jim Tindall, 1,460; Thelma Herrington, 1,304; Al Mason, 1,112; Dorothy Scowden, 1,109; and Don Adams, 1,021.

With over 900 hours are Milton Nitsch, Jim Foster, Fern Schlimme, Al Schlenker, Mildred Foster, Loren Shanks, Ray Ritchie, Betty G. Cato and Lois Woodford.

Volunteers over the 800 hour mark are Lillian Birkman, Shirley Welter, Jim Harnes, Hugh LeDeure, John "Doc" Yallaly and Gladys Lawrence.

With over 600 hours are Geneva Schwartz, Rupert Fiehler, Bob Harper, Ginger Beaudean and Marie Sebastian.

Over the 500 hour mark are H.K. "Ken" Carter, Fern Shultz, Albert Elfrank, Betty Henderson, Gary Estes, Jack Kinder, Doyle Mouser, Claude Estes and Charles Woodford.

Those with over 400 hours include Paul Seabaugh, Evelyn Seabaugh, Bill Hasler, Bob McLemore, Steve Francis, Margaret Kracke, Melvin Bacon, Lloyd Zimmerman, Clem Crain, Doris Criddle, Katherine King, Glenneta Vogelsang, Barbara Slinkard, Ann Hefele and Virginia Nance.

Volunteers over 300 hours are Francis Renard, Charles Shultz, Roy Rhodes, Virgil Elfrink, Harold Makins, Marie Brantley, Homer Schnurbusch, Rosalee Sides, Earl Statler and Teresa Newman.

With over 200 hours are Lou Maevers, Leola Essner, Helen Schnurbusch, Jean Petzoldt, Bill Bollinger, Millard Schlimme, Jewell Lincecum, Glen Bollinger, Jerry Dixon, Herb Nance, Betty E. Cato, Norman Sebastian, Betty J. Meyr, Art Docken, Claire Campbell, Paul Bell, Gale Holland, Lloyd Law, Ginny Jones, Verna Lee Nitsch, Carol Hadley, Robert E. Young, Walter Haynie, Jess Hopple, bob Rosenquist, Pauline Duffy, Bunny Smith and Marje Stearns.

Volunteers with over 100 hours are Ron Clark, Dale Smith, Fran Bohnert, "Jake" Spence, Phyllis Spence, J.C. Harrison, Lavern Bangert, Jack Cracraft, John Ferguson, Margie Reisenbichler, Jerry Stauber, Bonnie English, Lawrence Meier, Betty Rosenquist, Bill Bird, Bob Landgraf, Doris Meier, Betty Wiggins, Bob Seabaugh, Brenda Turner, Alberta Sawyer, Marvin Campbell, Roger English, Betty Hahs, Burdetta Frazier, Norman Seabaugh, Meta Hunt, Jim Zimmerman, Lanny Grissom, Melvin Eggiman, Sarah Spence, Myrtle Allen, John Gibbs, Bonnie Smith, Elmer Proctor, Mary Proctor, Pauline Nitsch, Mary Mouser, Rose Hughes, Esther Devenport, Vesta Bollinger, Caryn Michel, Vera Trowbridge, Brandy Totty, Dora Mantel, Mike Robertson, Hal B. Lehman Jr., Grace Willie, Bill Edwards and Edna Peetz.

Volunteers who started during 1997 and worked over 40 hours but less than 100 include Mary Lee, A.J. Seyer, Hazel Clippard, Carlton Crain, Jane Henrichson, Inez Knott, Ebby Popp, Dorothy Siebert, Gladys Siebert and Lawanda Verhines.

Some resident volunteers perform volunteer duties such as serving as officers of the resident council, looking after bird feeders and pets, helping set up for activities, assisting fellow veterans to and from the dining room and representing the home in community patriotic activities.

Resident volunteers are Charles Lincoln, Bill Walker, Horace "Woody" Woods, Pete Jarrell, Jim McClard, Harold Henderson, Charles Clippard and Pansey Connors.

Most veterans home volunteers are members of groups, veterans and patriotic groups in particular. Individual volunteers generally serve at least three to five hours or more monthly and are registered with the volunteer services office. Many others serve within their groups but are not registered.

Groups giving substantial annual hours in service include the Masonic Service Association with members from lodges 93, 417, 440, 441, 489, 545, 615, 672, and the Order of the Eastern Star, Cape Rock Chapter 60.

American Legion Ladies Auxiliary 14th District groups are units 63, 158, 369 and 389, and 13th District unit 133. American Legion 14th District groups are posts 63, 158 and 13th District post 133.

VFW Ladies Auxiliary groups are units 3174, 3838, 4282, 6407 and 10495. VFW Posts include 3174, 3838, 4282 and 10495.

Other groups include Disabled American Veterans Chapter 16, Elks Lodges 639 and 2652, Joint Veterans Council, Telephone Pioneers, Zonta Club, Pet Pals, area United Methodist Churches, St. Mary's Cathedral Parish, St. Vincent DePaul Parish, Jackson First Assembly of God Church, missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, AMVETS Post 94/Sons/Auxiliary, and the Missouri National Guard.