SALT monument

When Seniors and Lawmen Together, an organization that promotes interaction between senior citizens and law enforcement officer, holds its annual memorial service at 10 a.m. May 14 at Cape County Park North, several hundred individuals are expected to be on hand as SALT unveils its new black granite memorial to 48 officers with ties to Southeast Missouri who have died in the line of duty.

The new memorial replaces an existing monument that has run out of space for additional names. The officers listed date back to 1875. The latest name on honors John "Jay" Sampietro Jr. of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who died Aug. 17, 2005.

With the dedication of the new monument, efforts are underway to raise funds for a commemorative book dedicated to Southeast Missouri's fallen officers. Anyone who knows of a fallen officer or who would like to contribute to the book project should call assistant chief Roger Fields of the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 335-6621.

"SALT's battle cry is 'We have not forgotten,'" Fields said. "That's what SALT's main priority is: to let family members know their loved ones are not forgotten."

This worthy project deserves the support of anyone who can help.