Time to celebrate

Communities throughout Southeast Missouri will be marking Independence Day with special events and fireworks. Folks in the Cape Girardeau area will get a double treat. This year's Libertyfest is being combined with the air show that has been a popular attraction at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for several years. The combined Libertyfest/air show originally was planned for the downtown riverfront, but a swollen Mississippi River forced the move for the combined celebration to the airport.

Friday's Libertyfest/air show will honor veterans and active military personnel. Julie Clark will headline a patriotic show at twilight. The U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team will perform in the afternoon and evening, and the Lima Lima Flight Team will perform a missing man formation. Other air show events include Mike Rinker's Sukhoi Aerobatics and the Angel 7 Aerobatics.

There will be musical performances, and the Evening Optimist Club will sponsor Kid Zone.

The evening's events also will include the presentation of the Spirit of America Award to Jane Randol Jackson. The award, sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, includes a $1,000 donation to the organization that nominates the winner. This year's recipient of the donation is the Red House Interpretive Center, in which Jackson has been involved for several years.

Gates open at 2 p.m., and the music starts at 3:30 p.m. The opening ceremonies and air show are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., and fireworks will start at approximately 9:15 p.m. sponsored by NARS.

The Libertyfest/air show is for the whole family. It's a great way to celebrate our nation's birthday.