MODERATED BY ROB RAINS,StLSportsPage.com editor, author of 33 books including books with Ozzie Smith, Jack Buck, Whitey Herzog, and the "100th Anniversary of the St. Louis Cardinals.”

Panelists include:

ALVIN REID is one of the hosts for the popular Donnybrook television show on KETC in St. Louis, a 27-year veteran sports writer, member of 101ESPN radio staff, former writer at St. Louis American, and USA Today Baseball Weekly, named Missouri Press Association Best Sports Columnist twice.

JOHN LAGRONE, historian and actor who often portrays Dred Scott.


BILL VIRDON, FORMER MLB PLAYER (1955-1967) Cardinals and Pirates outfielder, outstanding player, manager in the major leagues, who broke into baseball in 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.He’s a World Series winner, Gold Glover and Rookie of the Year, member of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and this years receiving a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame in Marshfield. He was on the Cardinals when Tom Alton, the first African-American to play for St. Louis was there. He played against Robinson, and with players fresh from the Negro Leagues.

NED REYNOLDS is the popular Sports Director on KY3 where he has worked for more than 45 years. He is also the co- host of The Sports Reporters on Jock 98.7 in Springfield, Mo. In 2001 Reynolds was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and received the Champion Award in 2002 from the Ambassadors of Community Health Award. He was the first person with their own bobble head in the inaugural season of the Springfield Cardinals.

THE DRED SCOTT HERITAGE FOUNDATION- Lynne M. Jackson, the organizer of the Dred Scott Reconciliation Forum is the President and Founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. She is the great-great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott of the Dred Scott Decision, 1857. The Dred Scott Reconciliation Forum is an annual event at the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival. For information on the Foundation: TheDredScottFoundation.org

THURSDAY SCHEDULE April 24, 2014
11 a.m. "Remembering President John F. Kennedy" - Moderated by Mary Achor. Panel: Dr. Ken Hechler, Jamie Auchincloss (Jackie Kennedy's brother)
2:30 p.m. Tea with Paul Burrell, butler to Princess Diana- Holy Trinity Catholic Church 
Thursday night- Cherry Blossom Gala Dinner featuring former First Lady Laura Bush
Also Thurs. night --4:30- 8 p.m. Fish Fry- Lions Club Building on Maple Street

FRIDAY SCHEDULE April 25, 2014
9 a.m. Presidential Daughters: Barbara Bush and her sister Jenna Bush Hager at the Carl & Glessie Young Community Auditorium
1 p.m. Walk of Fame Ceremony Marshfield Christian Church
2:30 p.m. "Breaking the Color Barriers in Baseball"- Dred and Harriett Scott Reconcilliation Forum at Marshfield Christian Church. (Rob Rains, Bill Virdon, Ned Reynolds, Alvin Reid--Scroll down for more)
4 p.m. Julie Hedgepeth Williams, author whose aunt and uncle were on the Titanic
7 p.m. Hubble Dinner at Holy Trinity Catholic Church

SATURDAY SCHEDULE Saturday, April 26th, 2014)
Cherry Blossom Booths/Vendors at the Marshfield Activity Center (9 AM-4PM)
7 a.m.- Cherry Blossom 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Fordland Clinic. Begin at the Webster County Museum. Registration is $15 in advance, $20 the day of the race.
8:30 a.m.- Gigi Graham (daughter of Rev. Billy Graham) speaker at the 4th Annual Presidential Prayer Breakfast- hosted by Elkland Independent Methodist and Prospect Methodist Church--- Held at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Donations accepted, benefiting the Fire Place Fellowship- Haiti Ministry)
10:30 a.m.- "Memories of Mayberry" Panel- Featuring cast members of the Andy Griffith Show. Paul Mulik will moderate at the Marshfield Assembly of God-- Free Event
1:15 p.m.- "75th Anniversary of Gone with the Wind, Making of a Masterpiece" Panel-- Featuring actors and historians associated with the Academy Award winning film. Moderated by Angela Danovi, with author Anne Edwards and GWTW collector Dr. Christopher Sullivan, at the Marshfield Assembly of God--- Free Event
2:20 p.m.- "The Forgotten Founding Father, President James Monroe" presentation presented by Richard Gatchell, descendant of President James Monroe--- Marshfield Assembly of God--- Free Event
3:20 p.m.- Presidential Family Forum- Marshfield Assembly of God-- Featuring descendants of many of the American Presidential First Families--- Free Event
5th Annual State Dinner $55 (Sorry - SOLD OUT)
6:30 p.m.- Doors open at Blackberry Creek Retreat Bed & Breakfast
7 p.m.- State Dinner begins with guest speaker, Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu, It's a Wonderful Life)-- Dinner Tickets, $55 per person (SOLD OUT)

Sponsors of the 2014 Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival:
Blackberry Creek Retreat Bed & Breakfast
Freda's Uptown Cafe
Marshfield Mail
Housholder Law Firm, LLC
Alice Lucas
Sheila's Place
Lawson Law Firm
King Rentals
Webster Electric
Label Solutions
Bob & Mary Clair
D.D. Hamilton Title Co.
Liberty Bank
TelComm Credit Union
Ruth's Flowers & Gifts