LETTERS: ARMORY WANTS TO BE GOOD NEIGHBOR

To the editor:

In response to the Speak Out comment about the National Guard Armory on Independence Street in Cape Girardeau:

It has always been the intent and mission of the Missouri Army National Guard to be an integral member of the community. That means we always strive to be a good neighbor wherever we are allowed and asked to locate our facilities.

The 1140th Engineer Battalion headquartered in the Cape Girardeau armory employs 140 soldiers both full-time and part-time. The battalion commands eight other National Guard units from Farmington to Caruthersville employing a total of 527 soldiers.

The Engineer Brigade Headquarters located here employs 60 soldiers and commands engineer battalions and units in Kansas City as well as northern, eastern and southeastern Missouri with a total employment of 1,106 U.S. soldiers and members of the community.

The drug demand reduction coordinator located in the armory works diligently with local organizations and community leaders to fight the No. 1 enemy of our community and nation: the spread of drug abuse. His intent is to bring to bear against drug abuse the weight of the military through member involvement in community activities and the education of our nation's young people.

The military honors funeral detail is called upon daily to render the honors of a grateful nation to our deceased veterans. These soldiers work throughout the area and state. They too are members of the Missouri Guard and the community.

The medical unit located in the armory provides a location for military doctors and nurses from local practices and hospitals to train in their profession by providing military medical support for all military units: Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine.

Recruiters stationed in the Cape armory provide a service to the community by being our employment agency. They provide to young people and opportunity to continue their civilian education with college benefits, employment and training opportunities both military and civilian.

Engineer units in this armory answered the call for assistance from the community in the 1993 flood and again in 1995, as well as numerous times in years past. Last year, the armory in Cape Girardeau commanded and trained over 1,000 U.S. soldiers in humanitarian relief efforts in Honduras following Hurricane Mitch. Each year, the Missouri Army National Guard is stationed in various countries throughout the world and trains in several states in our nation. This is your Missouri Army National Guard. Be proud of us. Try not to find fault with us.

The armory is here for community and civic activities and functions. Every year, several events and gatherings are held at the armory as a service to the community.

We want to be considered a good neighbor and friend. We in the National Guard are the community. We live, work, worship and play here. If there is something wrong with the armory that makes it an "eyesore," tell us what it is. We'll fix it. After all, the armory is yours and ours. We want to keep it looking nice for you.

LT. COL. JERRY R. SANDERS

Missouri Army National Guard

Cape Girardeau