SWEETHEARTS MARK 67 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

Edward met Helen during a St. Vincent's Seminary Picnic at Perryville about 70 years ago.

That was six children, 30 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren ago.

Edward and Helen Hayden of Perryville observed their 67th wedding anniversary last November.

Delmar and Violet Lingle of Benton, Ky., celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this month.

Both couples were among more than 260 couples who gathered at the Holiday Inn Convention Center Monday for a Valentine's Day Celebration for couples who have been married at least 50 years.

The Haydens and Lingles shared honors for being married the longest. The Haydens also won a second category: most grandchildren, counting up 94 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

All winners received corsages and boutonnieres along with flowers and candy.

Although Cupid The God of Love wasn't visible, his presence was felt throughout the large party room. The Valentine's Day Celebration was co-sponsored by Schnucks and two Zimmer Radio Group stations, KZIM and K-103. Many couples held hands, and more joined in when Mike Dumey and Robyn Hosp suggested hand-holding as the two entertainers belted out a Vince Gill tune, "If You Ever Leave Me, Will You Take Me With You?"

Hayden operated a dairy farm and was a barber before retirement.

The Lingles moved to Benton, in the Kentucky Lake area, 20 years ago when Lingle retired from Caterpillar at Peoria, Ill. They participated in the Valentine's Celebration for the first time Monday at the urging of their son-in-law, Gregg Johnson, an employee of Schnucks.

"This was the biggest year ever," said Dennis Marchi, Schnucks manager. "We had about 450 people two years ago and 500 in 1999. "This year we set up for about 600, and at least 520 to 530 people were here."

The celebration started 24 years ago at Schnucks Food and Drug, 19 S. Kingshighway. The party outgrew the store the first decade and was moved to Drury Lodge. Four years ago the party was moved the Convention Center.

This year a couple attended from Whittier, N.C.. Dorris and Mavis Huey, who work as voluntary missionaries at a nearby Cherokee Indian reservation, had to be in Cape Girardeau on business and scheduled the visit for this week to attend the event. They were winners of prizes awarded for longest distance traveled, 505 miles. The previous longest-distance recorded had been about 200 miles.

Most of the party-goers were married 50 to 55 years.

The celebration has been so successful in Cape Girardeau that other Schnucks stores in the Midwest have copied the idea.

"A dozen Schnucks stores hold an annual Valentine's Party," said Marchi, "but the party with the largest number in attendance is still the one in Cape Girardeau.

"We opened early Saturday," said Marchi. "The event was advertised for 8 a.m., but people were at the door, so we opened early."

Those in attendance were treated to a breakfast.