CAPE PLANS DESERT STORM RALLY, PARADE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Joint Veterans Council of Cape Girardeau County and the city of Cape Girardeau will sponsor a "Desert Storm Support Walking Parade and Rally," on Feb. 23.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Gene Rhodes called for the public to show its support for the men and women from this area, who are serving in Operation Desert Storm, by walking in the parade and participating in the rally in front of the A.C. Brase Arena Building.

"We hope that you are as excited as we are about this opportunity to show our support for our troops," Rhodes said in a statement.

In connection with the rally, there will be canned food collection points set up that weekend to collect food for needy families of local men and women serving in Operation Desert Storm.

The featured speaker at the rally will be Lt. Col. Ian W. Sutherland, a retired member of the Army's elite Special Forces or Green Berets. Also appearing at the rally will be Melody Hutson, the reigning Mrs. Missouri, whose husband is serving with the Navy's Fleet Hospital No. 22 in the Persian Gulf. Hutson's daughter, Sheri, serves in the Army and is currently en route to the gulf to begin her tour of duty.

Sutherland is currently an assistant prosecuting attorney for Cape Girardeau County. He served with the 82nd Airborne and Special Forces. Sutherland plans to parachute from an airplane into Arena Park prior to the start of the rally. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Freedom Corner in Capaha Park, near the intersection of Broadway and North West End Boulevard. The parade will move west on Broadway to Kingshighway, then to the entrance to Arena Park, and on to the rally site in front of the Arena Building. The rally itself will begin around noon.

Tom Giles, post commander of American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau, credited the mayor with suggesting that a parade and rally be held.

"The mayor contacted several members of the Joint Veterans Council, who agreed to undertake the project, with assistance from the city," Giles explained. "We want to emphasize this will be a participatory parade. We want everyone to join in the parade and attend the rally."

Giles said that during a similar Desert Storm support parade and rally in Poplar Bluff, the parade started out with about 200 people, but wound up with nearly 2,000 as people along the route joined in the parade.

The master of ceremonies at the rally will be Charles Woodford, a retired Lt. Col. in the Air Force and past commander of American Legion Post 63. Woodford is a veteran of World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam War.

The rally will begin with the posting of the colors by a color guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by the American Legion Post 63 chaplain.

Mayor Rhodes will introduce the featured speakers. The program will close with the playing of taps and retiring of the colors.

"Bring your flags, or dress in patriotic clothing, or ribbons, and show your support for our servicemen and women in Operation Desert Storm," Giles urged. "We also ask that everyone bring one or more cans of food, or other staples that will be distributed to families of Desert Storm servicemen that may have need for them."

Giles said canned good collection points will be set up that Saturday at Freedom Corner and in front of the Arena Building. In addition, other collection bins will be set up that weekend at Schnucks, Del Farm National and Wal-Mart.

Besides canned goods, other staples such as baby diapers and formula can also be donated.

For additional information about the parade and rally, contact Giles at 335-0513, or 335-2562; Roy Rhodes, 335-6603, or 335-0683; or Charles Woodford, at 335-0773.