VETERANS GROUP TO DISCUSS JULY 4 FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Organizations that would like to support another community July 4 fireworks display in Cape Girardeau are invited to attend a planning meeting on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., at the Drury Lodge, Route K and I-55.

"We invite organizations that would like to help us put on another fireworks display this year in Cape Girardeau to send a representative to the meeting," said Burt Lehman, secretary-treasurer of the Joint Veterans Council of Cape Girardeau County. "Our tentative plans are to have the fireworks display begin at 9:15 p.m. in Arena Park."

Lehman said last year's fireworks display at Arena Park was made possible through the efforts and donations of many local organizations and community groups. "It was a very successful effort and the result was a spectacular fireworks display," he said.

Last year's fireworks display was the first in Cape Girardeau since the Cape Girardeau Jaycees discontinued its sponsorship of a July 4 picnic and fireworks display at the park. Prior to that, the event had been sponsored by the American Legion.

Lehman said other smaller towns, including Jackson, continued to have fireworks displays on the Fourth, but not Cape Girardeau.

"We felt this was not right for a city the size of Cape Girardeau not to have a fireworks display to celebrate the birthday of our country," said Lehman. "The Joint Veterans Council and the American Legion decided to see if we could get other organizations to join with us and raise the money to purchase the fireworks," said Lehman.

"We are accepting donations - large or small - for the fireworks display fund. For more information, or to make a donation, contact Pete Poe at the Drury Lodge, or call 335-8813 or 243-1371."