Whether it be a knowledge of one's genealogy or the history of a given locale, most of us bond closely to our ancestry Ancestry, whether we realize it or not, is very much responsible for how we think and what we do. Likewise, events both good and bad that took place long before we were put on this Earth directly affect our lives of today.

For Cape Girardeans, this year and next, and the year 2006, will pose excellent opportunities to re-examine or learn of Cape Girardeau's heritage. Cape Girardeau in 1992-'93 marks the founding 200 years ago in 1793 of a trading post here by trader and frontiersman Louis Lorimier; in 2006 the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the city itself will be celebrated.

Planning for the bicentennial celebration already is under way. The City Council has appointed a nine-member commission to shape plans for the event. With plenty of time for planning, the city's bicentennial promises to be a magnificent affair that could well outdo its 1956 sesquicentennial. Some will remember the sesquicentennial; it included among other things an elaborate pageant and parade, the traditional burying of the razor and most men sporting beards, and the burial of a time capsule.

On Saturday, the time capsule buried in Common Pleas Courthouse Park in conjunction with the sesquicentennial was unearthed during an event that attracted about 75 people, including some who helped put together the city's 150th anniversary celebration. Although a few of the mementos contained in a plastic bag inside the stainless steel drum had been damaged by moisture during its 35 years of burial, officials said they were confident that, with proper treatment, they can be restored to sufficient condition to be put on display. They include documents pertaining the sesquicentennial.

The opening of the capsule marks the beginning of a period when the city's heritage will be in the limelight. We are confident the Cape Girardeau Bicentennial Commission will put together a significant string of events that from a historical perspective will make us all even prouder of the city in which we live. We look forward to learning about what is in store this year and next, and in 2006 to commemorate the founding of Cape Girardeau 200 years ago.

We urge everyone, both native Cape Girardeans and those who have resituated here, to join in the upcoming celebrations. Stop and think how Cape Girardeau has progressively developed over those 200 years into a city with so much to offer. We think all will agree: Cape Girardeau is a great place to live.