VETS PLAN PARADE, PROGRAM

A retired veteran of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars will be the featured speaker Sunday at this year's Veteran's Day program in Cape Girardeau.

The program will begin at 3:15 p.m. at Freedom Corner in Capaha Park.

Tom Giles, adjutant for the American Legion's 14th district, will be master of ceremonies and introduce the featured speaker, Lt. Col. Jack P. Grisham of Cape Girardeau.

The Rev. John Ferguson, chaplain of American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau, will give the invocation.

Cape Girardeau's 135th Engineer Group of the Missouri Army National Guard will man the firing squad for the closing ceremony.

Grisham retired from the Army in 1972 after a 28-year career in the Army Airborne and Special Services. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, and five air medals. His other awards include two combat infantry badges and a senior parachute badge.

After retiring from the Army, Grisham taught history for 15 years at Central High School. He retired last June.

Grisham is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education.

He and his wife, the former Frances B. Bishop, have two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Again this year, the Veteran's Day parade and program will be held on the Sunday prior to the traditional Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, said parade chairman Roy M. Rhodes, of the Joint Veterans Council.

Last year, the council sponsored a special Veteran's Day program to re-dedicate the veteran's memorial plaques at Freedom Corner.

"We decided to hold the parade and program on the Sunday before Veteran's Day so more people can participate," Rhodes said. "Until last year, we had always held the parade on Nov. 11.

"But when it falls on a weekday everyone has to work, so participation is always low. By having it on the Sunday before Nov. 11, we feel more people can participate and be a part of the activity."

The parade will begin forming at 12:30 p.m., on Lorimier, Broadway, Independence and Themis streets, between Fountain and Lorimier. Those streets will be closed to all through traffic while the parade is being formed.

At 2 p.m., the color guard from the 135th Engineer Group, will lead the parade as it moves west on Broadway to Capaha Park. This year's parade marshal is retired Brig. Gen. Narvol A. Randol, Sr., of Cape Girardeau.

The 135th Missouri Army National Guard Band from Springfield will provide special march music for the military units participating in the parade, including the Air Force and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps detachments at Southeast Missouri State University, and the Cape Girardeau Civil Air Patrol.

Members of local veteran's organizations will either march or ride in the parade along with local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. Residents of the Cape Girardeau Veteran's Home will ride in the parade.

The parade will include the Central High School Band, a display of a North Vietnamese bamboo "tiger cage" similar to those used to hold captured POW's and members of the Vietnam Veteran's Motorcycle Club, who will be riding their bikes.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department's new fire engine also will be in the parade, along with units of the Cape Girardeau Shrine Club.

Rhodes said other organizations that would like to participate in the parade should contact him at 335-6604 or 335-0683.