IN APRIL OF 1975 COMMUNISTS OCCUPIED THE WHOLE
OF VIETNAM UNDER THE BANNER OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. REFUGEES
LEFT IN MASS, MANY COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.
OUR LADY OF THE OZARKS, A FORMER COLLEGE LOCATED
IN CARTHAGE MISSOURI, A CITY OF 12,000 RESIDENTS, WAS SOON OCCUPIED
BY A SMALL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC PRIESTS. THE FACILITY WAS RENAMED
THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOTHER CO-REDEMTRIX, OR CMC, AND THEY SOON BEGAN
AN ANNUAL EVENT REFERRED TO AS MARIAN DAYS.
MARIAN DAYS IS HELD FOR THREE DAYS IN AUGUST OF EACH
YEAR. IT IS A RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF DEVOTION AND THANKSGIVING
FOR THE VIRGIN MARY. DURING THE CELEBRATION THERE ARE CONSTANT MASSES,
PRAYER TIMES, CONFESSIONS, FAMILY CONFERENCES AND RELATED CATHOLIC ACTIVITIES.
SECONDLY, THE CELEBRATION ENABLES THE PARTICIPANTS TO FIND LOST FRIENDS
AND RELATIVES WHOM THEY WERE SEPARATED FROM AT THE END OF THE WAR AND DURING
THEIR RELOCATION TO THE UNITED STATES.
MARIAN DAYS FIRST INVOLVED A FEW THOUSAND VIETNAMESE
CATHOLICS WHO WOULD TRAVEL FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WITH THEIR
FAMILIES TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION. THEY CAMPED IN TENTS, MOTOR HOMES,
AND THEIR CARS ON THE CAMPUS GROUNDS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED TWO
OFFICERS TO REMAIN ON THE GROUNDS TO ASSIST WITH DIRECTIONS, TO LOCAL BUSINESSES
AND SIMILAR DUTIES. AS THE YEARS PASSED, THE NUMBERS OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE
GREW. BY THE LATE 1980'S SEVERAL OFFICERS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE AREA
TO MEET DEMANDS FOR POLICE ASSISTANCE BY THE TEN TO TWENTY THOUSAND VISITORS,
THUS STRAINING THE LOCAL POLICE FORCE OF TWENTY-ONE OFFICERS AND DOUBLING
THE CITIES NORMAL POPULATION.
AT ABOUT THIS SAME TIME, POLICE NOTED CHANGES IN
THE PERSONS TRADITIONALLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION.
YOUTH, UNACCOMPANIED BY THEIR FAMILIES AND DRIVING WILDLY CUSTOMIZED CARS,
WERE NOW IN ATTENDANCE. OFFICERS BEGAN RECOVERING CARS ORIGINALLY STOLEN
IN STATES SUCH AS TEXAS AND LOUISIANA. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS RECEIVING
CALLS FROM POLICE AGENCIES AROUND THE COUNTRY WANTING TO KNOW WHERE CARTHAGE
WAS AND WHY IT WAS ATTRACTING HUNDREDS OF PERSONS FROM THEIR VIETNAMESE
COMMUNITIES. IN 1989 OFFICERS ARRESTED HUNG VAN CHUNG, A VIETNAMESE
MALE WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A TRIPLE HOMICIDE IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
CHUNG
WAS EATING IN ONE OF THE TENT RESTAURANTS ON THE GROUNDS AT THE TIME OF
HIS ARREST.
THIS ARREST BEGAN AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE CARTHAGE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ASIAN CRIME INVESTIGATORS FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. IT WAS THEN REALIZED THAT MANY OF THE VIETNAMESE YOUTH WERE NOT
HERE BECAUSE OF THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH. IT WAS LEARNED THAT A NUMBER OF GANG
MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE TRAVELING TO CARTHAGE TO MEET
WITH ONE ANOTHER ON NEUTRAL GROUND. A PLACE IN WHICH THEY WERE NOT KNOWN
OR EASILY RECOGNIZED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
PRIOR TO THIS, THE DEFINITION OF A "GANG" IN CARTHAGE
WAS THREE TO SIX HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO BANDED TOGETHER AND GOT IN SOME
SORT OF TROUBLE. HAVING NO REAL EXPERTISE IN THE AREA OF GANG ACTIVITY,
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF ASIAN CRIME INVESTIGATORS.
THROUGH THIS ASSOCIATION, BEGINNING IN 1990, OFFICERS
FROM FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
HAVE ATTENDED THE MARIAN DAYS CELEBRATION IN AUGUST OF EACH YEAR. WITH
THEIR ASSISTANCE MANY MORE ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE OF GANG MEMBERS FOR CRIMES
SUCH AS MURDER, ROBBERY, AND DRUGS.
THERE WAS AN ONGOING CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY
OF OUR VIETNAMESE VISITORS AS THREATS OF HARM FROM SOME LOCAL CITIZEN'S
WERE EXPRESSED. ON JULY 25TH, 1989, CARTHAGE POLICE ARRESTED A LOCAL
MAN FOR ETHNIC INTIMIDATION AS A RESULT OF HIS FIRING A SHOTGUN BLAST
THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE CMC PRINT SHOP. A THREAT WAS RECEIVED THAT A
PERSON WAS ATTEMPTING TO FORM AN ASSAULT TEAM TO STAGE AN ATTACK
ON THE VIETNAMESE ATTENDING THE CELEBRATION. THE ATTACK DID NOT OCCUR!
WITH ATTENDANCE NOW AT OVER THIRTY THOUSAND PERSONS,
THE POLICE BEGAN BARRICADING THE AREA ALLOWING ONLY ONE POINT OF ENTRY
INTO THE CELEBRATION AND ENABLING CLOSER OBSERVATION OF GANG MEMBERS
IN ATTENDANCE. THIS ALSO IMPEDES UNWANTED INTRUSION BY A SMALL NUMBER
OF LOCAL PERSONS WISHING TO DISPLAY THEIR DISPLEASURE WITH THE VIETNAMESE
IN ATTENDANCE. THIS SINGLE ENTRY POINT HAS RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF WANTED
PERSONS AND THE SEIZURE OF WEAPONS AND DRUGS, HELPING TO ELIMINATE POTENTIAL
PROBLEMS.
WANTED POSTERS OF VIETNAMESE GANG MEMBERS
ARE DISPLAYED AT THE POLICE COMMAND CENTER LOCATED ON THE GROUNDS AND ARE
AN ATTRACTION FOR THE VIETNAMESE IN ATTENDANCE. MANY TIMES THEY WILL RECOGNIZE
THESE WANTED PERSONS AS BEING PRESENT AT MARIAN DAYS, OR THEY MAY PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON THEIR CURRENT LOCATION IN THEIR HOMETOWN. IN 1992 OFFICERS
ARRESTED GNOC KHAI TRAN (aka ROOSTER) AT THE CELEBRATION ON A WARRANT
CHARGING HIM WITH MURDER IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. HE HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED
FROM THE POSTED FLYER BY ONE OF THE VIETNAMESE IN ATTENDANCE.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A MULES/NCIC COMPUTER
SYSTEM AND SEPARATE RADIO SYSTEM IN THE POLICE COMMAND CENTER. A DISPATCHER
OCCUPIES THE COMMAND CENTER AND IS ABLE TO MONITOR THE OFFICERS AT THE
ENTRY POINT ONE HALF MILE AWAY VIA A VIDEO CAMERA. A MINIMUM OF TWENTY
UNIFORMED OFFICERS FROM THREE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF A CARTHAGE POLICE LIEUTENANT , ARE ON DUTY TWENTY-FOUR
HOURS A DAY FOR A FOUR DAY PERIOD. THESE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE THE
ASIAN CRIME INVESTIGATORS PRESENT FOR THE EVENT. IN 1994 EIGHTEEN GANG
INVESTIGATORS FROM ILLINOIS, TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSOURI, WASHINGTON D.C.,
CALIFORNIA, AND MINNESOTA WERE IN ATTENDANCE TO ASSIST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO AS TO NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE POLICE SERVICE
TO THE PERMANENT CITIZEN'S OF CARTHAGE, ENFORCEMENT AT MARIAN DAYS
AND ENFORCEMENT FOR THE CITY ARE KEPT SEPARATE. PATROLS AND INVESTIGATIONS
WITHIN THE CITY REMAIN THE SAME. IF THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES A REPORT OR
COMPLAINT THAT PERTAINS TO THE CELEBRATION, THAT INFORMATION IS DISSEMINATED
TO THE COMMAND CENTER BY TELEPHONE OR RADIO AND THE COMMAND CENTER ASSUMES
THE DISPATCH RESPONSIBILITIES. OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE GROUNDS THEN RESPOND
TO THE PARTICULAR CALL.
OFFICERS MAINTAIN A PATROL OF AN OUTER PERIMETER
OF THE CELEBRATION AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF THE PROPERTY
AROUND THE GROUNDS, KNOWING IN ADVANCE WHICH PROPERTY OWNERS WILL ALLOW
THE VISITORS ON THEIR PROPERTY AND WHICH PROPERTY OWNERS WILL NOT.
ALTHOUGH ATTENDANCE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
HAS APPEARED TO LEVEL OFF AT APPROX. 50,000 TO 60,000 PEOPLE, GANG
MEMBERS ARE SEEING A LARGER NUMBER OF OFFICERS WITH THE ADDITION OF AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF INVESTIGATORS FROM THEIR HOME TOWNS. NO LONGER SEEING
CARTHAGE AS SAFE "NEUTRAL GROUND" FOR THEM TO RENEW THEIR CRIMINAL RELATIONSHIPS
WITH OTHER GANG MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT IS HOPED THAT THEIR
NUMBERS WILL DECREASE TO A POINT THAT IT WILL NO LONGER BENEFIT THE ASIAN
INVESTIGATOR TO SET ASIDE A WEEK IN AUGUST FOR A TRIP TO CARTHAGE MISSOURI
OTHER THAN SIMPLY BEING ABLE TO VISIT US WHILE ON VACATION.
IN 2003, A FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN TWO RIVAL GANGS,
ONE FROM WICHITA KANSAS AND THE OTHER FROM OKLAHOMA CITY. KNIVES
WERE USED IN THE FIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES AND ONE DEATH.
AS THE FIGHT BROKE OUT, OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO THE
AREA AND THE ROADBLOCKS ON THE PERIMETER WERE SHUT DOWN NOT ALLOWING ANYONE
TO ENTER OR LEAVE. AS A RESULT OF THAT ACTION, ONE SUSPECT WAS TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY AS HE TRIED TO LEAVE. OTHER SUSPECTS WERE LOCATED ON
THE GROUNDS AND DETAINED. AS ORDER BEAN TO BE RESTORED, OFFICERS
IN NUMBER SOUGHT OUT, IDENTIFIED, AND REMOVED OTHER SUSPECTED GANG MEMBERS
WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE. IN 2004 A CONCENTRATED EFFORT WAS MADE
TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT ATTENDING FOR THE EVENT'S RELIGIOUS
ASPECT AND BAN THEM FROM THE PROPERTY. THIS IS DONE WITH THE ASSISTANCE
OF THE VIETNAMESE PRIESTS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THE PROPERTY. THIS
SAME EFFORT WAS PUT FORTH IN 2005 AND THE RESULTS WERE EVIDENT IN COMMENTS
MADE FROM THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WHO FELT THAT IT WAS THERE BEST MARIAN EXPERIENCE
EVER.
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MIDWEST GATHERING
OF THE ARTISTS
SEPTEMBER 9TH & 10TH
, 2005 - CELEBRATES THE MIDWEST GATHERING OF
THE ARTISTS. THIS EVENT SHOWCASES LOCAL ARTISTS SUCH AS BOB TOMMEY, ANDY
THOMAS, LOWELL DAVIS, JERRY ELLIS, AND SAM BUTCHER.
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MAPLE LEAF WEEK
CARTHAGE IS AMERICA'S MAPLE
LEAF CITY AND EACH YEAR IN OCTOBER WE CELEBRATE WITH A WEEK
FULL OF ACTIVITIES!
MAPLE LEAF 2005 IS OCTOBER
8th - 15TH
THERE WILL BE A HISTORIC HOMES TOUR, CRAFTS FESTIVAL WITH BOOTHS, A 500+
CAR SHOW, QUILT SHOW, DOG SHOW, LIVE MUSIC AND THE FOUR STATE BAND FESTIVAL
ALONG WITH SOUTHWEST MISSOURI'S LARGEST PARADE.
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WAY OF SALVATION
LIGHT DISPLAY
THE WAY OF SALVATION IS A DISPLAY OF ELECTRO-ART
SCULPTURES. A TOTAL OF OVER A MILLION TINY BULBS SPARKLE AND FLARE, SURROUNDING
YOU IN A BEAUTIFUL DREAM OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON SET IN A REALISTIC BIBLICAL
BACKGROUND.
THE DISPLAY BEGINS ON THANKSGIVING DAY AND RUNS NIGHTLY
THROUGH JANUARY 1ST. (IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER, THE DISPLAY
WILL BE CLOSED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.
ADMISSION IS FREE AND DONATIONS ARE WELCOME.
MUDSTOCK
2005 A MUD ODESSY
JUNE 18TH 2005 IS THE DATE FOR THE SIXTH ANNUAL
MUDSTOCK MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND GET READY TO HAVE SOME CLEAN (DIRTY) FUN
IN THE SUN!!
CLICK THIS LINK FOR MUDSTOCK 2005 PHOTOS
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Last Revised: 08/18/2005
Constructed:04/13/97
PRECIOUS
MOMENTS WEEK IN MISSOURI
