RENAISSANCE CLUB LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

How proud Cape Girardeau can be of Central High School's Renaissance Club, which honors area veterans with an annual program.

Nov. 10 marked the sixth year for the observance, which pays tribute to veterans of all wars, peacetime military, Red Cross representatives, Gold Star Mothers who lost children during wartime and others who made sacrifices for their nation. Included among those remembered during this year's event were 65 Central High School graduates who died in the line of duty.

About 600 people attended this year to hear a tribute of songs and essays, all led and researched by Renaissance Club members.

It's appropriate that the Renaissance Club would take on this valuable project.

The renaissance era was a time of discovery and self-improvement. People of that era set goals for achievement in mind, body and spirit.

The renaissance tradition requires the freedom to explore what you want, when you want it. It requires the freedom to break out of your assigned role in family and society and strive to be a better person.

So who better for the club to honor than the men and women who gave us a country where doing just that is possible? In so many nations throughout world history, citizens have been limited in what they can read or hear.

And if club members want to expand themselves academically, what a better way to learn about our nation's war involvement and military life than to speak with those who experienced it firsthand?

We hope to see "A Tribute to Veterans" for many years to come.