SOUTHEAST SHOWCASE SALUTES VETERANS

A star-spangled salute to veterans and to the music that made the 1940s the era of swing will be held in Cape Girardeau next Thursday when the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation hosts its annual Southeast Showcase.

Now in its fifth year, Southeast Showcase, held at the Show Me Center, features food and beverages from over 35 area restaurants and vendors and entertainment. Food and beverage booths will be open from 6-8:30 p.m. Entertainment will continue and beverage booths will remain open until 11 p.m.

Last year more than 1,300 guests took part in Showcase. The 1992 gala raised about $32,000 to go toward patient care developments at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Serving as co-chairmen of Showcase '93 are foundation volunteers Carol Sparkman and Kerrye Foley.

Showcase corporate sponsor once again this year is Ford Groves of Cape Girardeau. General sponsors for the event are AmeriFirst Bank, Boatmen's Banks Capital Bank, Commerce Bank, Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau, Rhodes 101 Convenience Stores, South East Missouri Bank and the First National Bank. Promotional support for Showcase '93 is provided by K103 and KZIM radio.

This year's grand prize drawing will be for a $500 U.S. savings bond.

Showcase tickets, $35 each, may be purchased through the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation by calling 651-5510 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. weekdays.

According to Foundation Executive Director J. Charles Stotz, the date of the event -- Veterans' Day -- affords an excellent opportunity to "combine a great evening with a special thank you to all the men and women who have served our country."

Stotz said the Showcase will include displays of military memorabilia from the various branches of service.

Highlighting the evening's entertainment will be the big band sounds of the Benny Goodman Orchestra.

As a "tribute to the king of swing," the Benny Goodman Orchestra will feature the big band, swing and pop tunes of the 1930s and 1940s. Showcase guests may dance to favorites such as "Blue Skies," "Goody Goody," "Moonglow" and "Stompin' at the Savoy."

During the evening there will also be special appearances by Showcase volunteers Velshera Bartlett, Sandra Bollinger and Kelly Wade. The trio will recreate the upbeat sound of The Andrews Sisters, popular entertainers during the World War II era.

Restaurants participating in the Showcase are Broussard's Cajun Cuisine, Burger King, Captain China Liu, Cedar Street/Drury Lodge, Chick-Fil-A, Domino's Pizza, El Torero, Frontier Bar-B-Que, Imo's Pizza, Marriott Healthcare Services, Pagliai's Pizza and Pasta.

Also, Port Cape Girardeau and Port Cape West, Schnucks Deli & Bakery, Servicemaster Food Management, Spanky's, Subway, Taco John's, The Pasta House Company, Tric's Family Restaurant and Catering, Victoria's/Holiday Inn and Witz Restaurant.

Desserts and snacks will be available from Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream, Eagle Snacks, Margie's Pie and Cake Factory, My Daddy's Cheesecake, Sweet Stop Bakery and TCBY Yogurt.

Beverage vendors include Bluff City Beer Co., Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Culligan Water Conditioning, David Sherman Corporation, Kohlfeld Distributing Co., Paramount Liquor Co., Pepsi Cola, River Eagle Distributing Co., Ronnoco Coffee Company, S & D Coffee and Schaefer Water Center.