Flag ceremony in Cape Girardeau to honor more than a dozen new veterans
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - The flag ceremony on Veterans Day will honor more than a dozen new veterans and their families.
Wayne Daume, like many of us, knows the beauty of the Avenue of Flags at Cape County Park North, but he did not know his father Walter qualified to be honored there until his wife heard a presentation from Avenue Chairman David Cantrell.
“He gave a program for my wife’s group. I had him check on it. Daumes weren’t out there, so he said, ‘I’ll send you something to get a flag up,’” Wayne Daume said.
We caught up with Cantrell as he and dozens of volunteers put up hundreds of flags in honor of Veterans Day. He said the Avenue of Flags will welcome more than a dozen new flags on Saturday, November 11, including one to honor Walter Daume.
“It’s our way of appreciating and saying thank you for your loved ones’ sacrifices and service,” he said. “And how we honor their veteran and the family as well.”
Wayne will be speaking at that ceremony.
“Well, I can tell you right now, I hope I don’t break up when I give my little speech, ‘cause it is kind of emotional getting him honored after all these years,” he said.
Walter Daume served in the Army during World War II. Wayne laid out his father’s medals and other honored items. Wayne said his dad did not share much about his time overseas.
“I mean, my dad would not talk about it,” he said. “He just wouldn’t. But he kinda would tell stories from time to time.”
Daume said he wishes he could see one more flag out there to honor is brother who served in the U.S. Navy, but not in a war zone.
“It’s just that once I found out about it, I just wanted it to happen,” he said. “I wanted it for Jim too, my brother, but it didn’t happen and that’s okay. I’m alright with that, but the fact that my dad can be out there and other people can be there and it’s our country that’s honoring him, I think it’s an awesome thing, I really do; and I’m glad someone took the effort to make it happen.”
The ceremony will be Saturday, November 11 at 9 a.m. at Cape County Park North.
Volunteers raised more than 900 flags for the Avenue of Flags in Cape County Park North on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 a.m.
The flags will be taken down on Monday at 4 p.m.
Maintained by VFW Post 3838, each flag represents a Cape Girardeau County resident who has served our country and either died in the line of duty or post service.
The community is also invited to see Jeff Pind’s Military Veterans Memorial in the chapel at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. It will be Friday through Sunday, Nov. 10-12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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