As Charlie Drury passed the praise for an anti-abortion rally he helped organize to other people, one of his young granddaughters said, "Grandpa, we're collecting money for SEMO Lifesavers to help pay for this."

Drury, whose financial and organizational support helped make the prayer vigil and rally possible, opened his wallet and dropped a $5 bill into the girl's hat. Delighted, the youngster skipped off to collect more donations.

Protecting the lives of children and the unborn motivated Drury and others to pull together an event they described as nothing short of a miracle.

In five days, members of SEMO Lifesavers, a chapter of Missouri Right to Life, arranged for two national speakers, 4,400 white, wooden crosses, and more than 2,500 people for a prayer vigil prior to President Clinton's arrival. Eight billboards with anti-abortion messages along the president's Interstate 55 motorcade route went up overnight Wednesday.

"A lot of people did things that couldn't be done," Drury said. "We had no organization, no management, nobody to head it up. There must be a reason. I think everyone knows the reason."

Many of those attending the rally hoped Clinton would hear their message and be moved to action.

"He has the power to put a stop to abortions," said Annette Glastetter of Chaffee, just after waving to the president as Air Force One flew overhead. "Maybe through our prayers he might have a conversion of heart."

After the event, a bus was available to take people to the presidential rally at Capaha Park. Several abortion protesters attempted to enter the fenced area at the park, but Secret Service agents escorted them to the designated protest area.

The prayer vigil started at 10:30 a.m., several hours before the president arrived in Cape Girardeau. Two nationally known leaders in the anti-abortion movement, Phyllis Schlafly and Penny Lea, spoke. Schlafly of St. Louis is president of Eagle Forum. Lea of Boone, N.C., is director of the anti-abortion group, "I Believe in Life."

The event was held at the Cemetery of Innocents on Siemers Drive near I-55. Prior to this week, 700 wooden crosses, symbolizing lives taken by abortion, stood in neat rows. Dozens of carpenters and cabinetmakers and painters worked around the clock to increase the number of crosses to 4,400, representing the number of abortions that take place each day.

Republicans on hand were JoAnn Emerson, candidate for 8th District U.S. representative; state Sen. Peter Kinder; state Reps. Mary Kasten and David Schwab; and Richard Kline, candidate for 8th District congressman.

Schlafly said that while some people might wish that abortion wasn't political, "there is no way to take abortion out of politics."

"Abortion issues are voted on every year in Washington and in states," she said. "The question is, Will we have politicians who will stand up for life?"

Schlafly called Clinton the nation's most pro-abortion president ever. "We've heard the talk about making abortions rare," she said. "But it's as phony as a $3 bill."

Lea said she is nervous about the November election results. "It seems we would rather have Hollywood and glitz than reality," she said.

"Every day our children are being butchered because people think it is politically correct," Lea said. "We have sat back and allowed murder in the name of tolerance. I have had enough. I will never go along with the murder of children."

People brought lawn chairs and blankets. School children from area Catholic schools were allowed to attend. A group of students from St. Vincent's High School in Perryville came by bus, and the event took on the air of a revival, complete with music.

Jennie Starkey, a St. Vincent's high school student, said she wished the president could take her junior year of religion class. After learning about abortions, Starkey said, he couldn't possibly continue to let them happen.

Thousands of T-shirts with messages "Vote for Life" and "Pray to End Abortion" were handed out. The shirts all had a message against partial-birth abortions printed on the back. Clinton vetoed a bill that would have banned partial-birth abortions.

"This is a miracle," said Teresa LeGrand of SEMO Lifesavers.

When members of the local anti-abortion organizations learned the president and vice president would be visiting Cape Girardeau they began calling each other asking if something should be done.

When contacted on Monday and asked if they would be interested in speaking Friday, both Schlafly and Lea said yes. Normally they are booked a year in advance.

Volunteers began calling to let people know the event was taking place. Linus and Rose Prost of Perryville saw the new billboards on their way home from vacation Thursday night and decided they had to attend. "We are very, very pro-life," he said. Rose Prost added, "I just pray that he would listen to the people about abortions."

Ron Roth of Cape Girardeau said, "If Cape Girardeau can do this all the towns where Clinton and Gore are going to stop can do it too."