Dexter, Missouri - The wheels are in motion for The Moving Wall and volunteers are greatly needed for the half-scale version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The Moving Wall will be on display at East City Park in Dexter near the Parks and Recreation gym beginning Thursday, August 6th through Monday, August 10th with a “Run to the Wall” escort parade and ceremony slated to take place on Sunday, August 9th.
Actual placement of the memorial replica requires a significant amount of manual labor. A platform must be constructed and put into place on Tuesday, August 4th and Wednesday, August 5th.
Volunteers are also needed on Monday, August 10th at 1:00 p.m. to dismantle The Wall.
“We need some muscle and some skill to help with this effort,” stated Mark Stidham, Dexter City Administrator who is spearheading the project.
A plan is in the works to utilize some of the Dexter High School Football Bearcats, but more volunteers are required. If you would like to help please contact Mark Stidham at (573) 624-5959 to help build the platform, etc.
When The Moving Wall visits our community, it will remain on display and open to the public 24 hours a day. Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. volunteers are needed to man a couple of computers and help direct visitors in finding names on The Wall. The names are not in alphabetical order, but rather in order of the date they perished. For that reason, navigation is sometimes an issue for visitors.
Mary Worley is organizing the volunteer list for the visitor’s tent. Two to three volunteers are needed for one-hour shifts beginning Thursday, August 6th through Monday, August 10th. Tents will be available for shade as well as chairs, tables, water, and electric fans for those who would like to volunteer.
Please contact Mary Worley at (573) 624-6995 or drop by her office at Dexter Realty, 3 W. South Main, across from the Depot in downtown Dexter.
Other items are needed to make this event a success. These items include pop-up tents, bottled water, and Gatorade. The tents will be available in the parking lot for people to rest, cool down, or sit and visit during the heat of the day. If any businesses or residents would like to donate cases of water and Gatorade that would be most appreciated by the volunteers as well as the patrons visiting The Wall.
For storage purposes, the Parks and Recreation office is going to have their building available prior to the event. The office is open Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and will take drop-offs throughout the day. If you need someone to pick up donations, please contact Dee Loflin at (573) 614-4804 and she will deliver them for you.
“Run to the Wall” Sunday, August 9th 1:15 p.m. Hickory Log
The “Run to the Wall” is not a foot race, but an escort to the Ceremony to commemorate the Moving Wall display.
The “Run” will begin at 1:15 p.m. at the Hickory Log on Business 60 and will travel East on Business Hwy 60 to East Park. The City of Dexter police department will escort motorcycles, cars, and trucks to the ceremony. Riders are asked to display American Flags! All veterans are encouraged to ride in the Run to the Wall event. Area businesses along the route are asked to display their American flags and even stand along the street to waive and support our Veterans.
Hand-held American flags will also be distributed to the participants who gather at Hickory Log parking lot to show their support. Parking will be available at the fairgrounds behind East Park so it is encouraged that people get in groups for the “Run to the Wall” to decrease parking issues.
“We hope to have several golf carts in place to transport guests from the parking area at the fairgrounds to the display,” commented Mark Stidham. “This is another area for volunteers to help.”
Anyone who has a golf cart and doesn’t mind putting it in play at the park, or even better volunteering their time to shuffle guests to and from vehicles should contact Mark Stidham (573) 624-5959 or Dee Loflin at (573) 614-4804 and leave a message.
At The Wall and Ceremony
Speaker Brigadier General (Ret) Charles Kruse of Dexter will briefly address the gathering. Other veterans yet to be named at the present time will be on hand to represent this area’s veterans from the Vietnam era.
Respect
It is important to maintain a dignified and respectful atmosphere at The Moving Wall. No vendors within 100 yards are permitted and no forms of entertainment are allowed. It is asked that you turn CELL PHONES OFF! No smoking at the event and no animals are permitted with the exception of service animals. Special paper and lumber crayons will be available at the wall for those who wish to make “rubbings” of names. VISITORS ARE ASKED TO MAINTAIN AN ATMOSPHERE OF SOLEMNITY AND RESPECT AT ALL TIMES WHEN IN THE VICINITY OF THE DISPLAY.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Manual Labor – Tuesday, August 4th at 8:00 a.m. (Contact Mark Stidham)
Manual Labor – Wednesday, August 5th at 8:00 a.m. (Contact Mark Stidham)
Tent Volunteers – Thursday, August 6th – Sunday, August 9th 8 am – 8 pm and Monday, August 10th 8 am – 1 pm (Contact Mary Worley)
To Donate Water and Gatorade (Contact Dee Loflin or drop at Parks Office)
To Help with Golf Carts (Contact Mark Stidham or Dee Loflin)
To Donate use of pop-up tents (Contact Mark Stidham)
To Drive in Run to the Wall (Be at Hickory Log 12:45 pm Sunday, August 10th)
To Donate money for flags (Contact Dee Loflin)
Manual Labor – Monday, August 10th 1:00 p.m. (Contact Mark Stidham)
Photo by Jessica Loflin on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. 2015.
Bloomfield, Missouri - On Saturday, June 27th at 10:00 AM, American Legion Post 114 from Sikeston, MO arrived at the Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery and presented the Bloomfield Assistance League of the Missouri Veterans Cemetery INC with a donation of $17,000.00.
This is money is from their 3rd Annual Poker Run and Cook-Off Competition fundraiser they had in May. They held a Wing War and Bean Bag Toss Tournament on Friday, May 29th.
On Saturday, May 30th they held a Poker Run and a Cook Off-Team Competition cooking ribs, pork steak and chicken.
They even held an auction, 505/50 drawing and served dinner charging a small fee. Everyone enjoyed the event and they are already planning next year’s event.
Shown in the photo above is Vickie Wilson from the Sikeston American Legion Auxiliary presenting the donation to Kenneth G. Swearengin, Director of the Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery.
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Dexter, Missouri - Small towns are wonderful especially this time of year and you can't get more American than a hometown kids' Patriotic Parade!!
Now in its 23rd year, the Fourth of July Patriotic Parade for kids will be held on Saturday, July 4th at 10:00 a.m. This annual parade will begin at the corner of Elm ad Vine streets in downtown Dexter.
The “just for kids” parade was started by Janice Barney, Lisa Greer and Jean Rahm. The parade leadership has passed to a new generation, as Kristi and Jason Banken, now host the holiday parade. The Bankens began hosting the parade 9 years ago, and have continued to build upon the Independence Day tradition.
The parade will follow its traditional route down Elm Street to Stoddard Street with kids on bicycles, tricycles, wagons, scooters, golf carts, on foot or in strollers. You may even see a few patriotic dogs in the parade.
The youngsters guided by Uncle Sam will gather on the steps of the U.S. Post Office on Stoddard Street to salute the American Flag with the Pledge of Allegiance. They will sing a few patriotic songs and pose for those ever-lasting photos.
The parade will get moving again, east down Stoddard Street to Poplar Street, where it will turn south at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) back to Vine Street and turn west and return to the Bankens’ front yard where they will be treated to lemonade and a small snack.
Children are invited to participate. They may walk or bring their bikes and other means of transportation for the parade. Parking will be available for grown-ups in the city parking lot on Vine Street across from the Dexter Municipal Building.
Dexter, Missouri - Keller Public Library held probably the most exciting Summer Reading program of the season when Wildlife Biologist Jonathan Hardison brought Animal Tales from Mayfield, Kentucky.
Hardison presented several animals for the children to see and touch. He explained their habitats, what they liked to eat, and told the children the names of each critter.
When he brought out the very large Brazilian Rainbow Boa, the crowd gasped and some of the parents seemed to squirm in their chairs when they saw the large snake.
Other animals featured were a red kangaroo, chinchilla, African crested porcupine, and a small bird.
Their mission is to educate, entertain and inspire children to love animals. A professional Wildlife Biologist and the former Curator at the AZA Accredited Zoo, Jared Baker, started Animal Tales.
“Baker hired Hardison in 2015 and was so impressed with his ability to both simultaneously control and educate the kids all the while keeping them entertained.
Hardison was born and raised in Western Kentucky, spending the majority of his childhood in the Mayfield and Benton areas. Being the son of a pastor, Jonathan also spent time growing up in both Vermont and Brentwood, TN. He now lives in Dover, TN with his wife, Natalie, and their two children, Dylan and Joy Beth.
Jonathan is a 2002 graduate of Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Biology.
Jonathan’s career in Wildlife Biology was paused for a short time when he accepted the call into the gospel ministry. He is currently the pastor of Dotsonville Baptist Church in Woodlawn, TN.
Before joining Animal Tales in 2015, Jonathan worked in helicopter and aircraft maintenance at Fort Campbell Army Base. With Animal Tales, he looks forward to being able to utilize both his education and experience in wildlife biology to teach and share with others the unique programs that Animal Tales has to offer.”
The Keller Public Library will continue their weekly Summer Reading Program on Wednesday, July 1st with Super Magic Super Hero, Magician Marty Hahne at 11:00 a.m. Should be a great program!!
