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| Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony | POW-MIA Presentation/Toast | Fallen Comrades Table |
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Missing Man Table and Honors Ceremony
Source: The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
Moderator:
As you entered the dining area, you may have noticed a table at the front, raised to call your attention to its purpose -- it is reserved to honor our missing loved comrades.
Set for six, the empty places represent our men missing from each of the five services - Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard - and civilians. This Honors Ceremony symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit.
Some here today/tonight were very young when the Vietnam War began; however, all Americans should never forget our brave men and women who answered our nation's call and served the cause of freedom in a special way.
As the Honor Guard places one of the five service covers or a civilian cap on each empty plate, I would like to ask you to consider their sacrifices, followed by a moment of silent prayer.
Honor Guard:
(In silence or with dignified, reverent music as background, the Honor Guard moves into position around the table and simultaneously places one of the service covers, of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, or a civilian hat, on each empty dinner plate at each table setting. The Honor Guard then departs.)
Moderator:
Please be seated.....I would like to explain the meaning of the items on this special table.
The table is round - to show our everlasting concern for our men still missing.
The cloth is white - symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, awaiting answers.
The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers.
The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The glass is inverted - to symbolize their inability to share this evening's toast.
The chairs are empty - they are missing.
Let us now raise our water glasses in a toast to honor America's POW/MIA's and to the success of our efforts to account for them.
The POW/MIA Presentation/Toast
Source: United States Air Force Academy
As you entered the dining out this evening you may have noticed a small table in a place of honor near our head table. It is set for one. The military caste is filled with symbolism. This table is our way of symbolizing the fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst. They are commonly called, POW/MIA, we call them brothers. They are unable to be with us this evening and so we remember them because of their incarceration.
This table set for one is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors. Remember!
The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms. Remember!
The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms who kept the faith awaiting their return. Remember!
The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn upon the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting of our missing. Remember!
A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate. Remember!
There is salt upon the bread plate symbolic of the families' tears as they wait. Remember!
The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us this night. Remember!
The chair--the chair is empty--they are not here. Remember!
Fallen Comrades Table
Source: United States Air Force Academy
To remember those who answered the call, but for whatever reason, failed to return. I would like to call your attention to the table in front of the room. The hats of the five services remind us of the unity of purpose shared by our comrades-in-arms.
The table set for one is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors.
The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms.
The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms who keep the faith awaiting their return.
The red ribbon on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn upon the breasts of thousands who bear witness to their determination to demand a proper accounting of our missing.
A slice of lemon is on the plate to remind us of their bitter fate and salt to represent the families' tears as they wait.
The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us tonight. The chair is empty, they are not here. Remember all of you who called them comrades, who depended upon their might and aid and relied upon them for surely, they have not forsaken you.
Please raise a toast with water to those who are absent tonight as prisoners of war or missing in action.
To those who served so honorably, who were lost or are still as yet unaccounted for.
To our comrades, who gave their tomorrows for our today.
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