Those who have served, and those currently
serving in the uniformed services of the United States, are ever mindful
that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness
of personal sacrifice. We, are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy
our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured and may still be enduring
the agonies of pain,deprivation and imprisonment.
Before we begin our activities, we pause to
recognize our POWs and
MIAs.
We call your attention to this Small table
which occupies a place of
dignity and honor. It is set for one , symbolizing
the fact that members of
our armed forces are missing from our ranks.
They are referred to as POWs
MIAs.
We call them comrades. They are unable to be
with their loved ones
and families, so we join together to pay humble
tribute to them, and to bear
witness to their continued
absence.
The table is small, symbolizing the frailty
of one prisoner, alone against
his or her suppressors.
The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity
of their intentions to
respond to their Country's call to
arms.
The single rose in the vase signifies the blood
they may have shed in
sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved
United States of America.
This rose also reminds us of the family and
friends of our missing comrades
who keep faith, while awaiting their
return.
The red ribbon on the vase represents the red
ribbons worn on the lapels
of the thousands who demand, with unyielding
determination, a proper
account of our comrades who are not among
us.
A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of
their bitter fate.
The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us
of the countless fallen tears of
families as they wait.
The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with
us at this time.
The chair is empty. They are NOT
here.
The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope,
which lives in our hearts
to illuminate their way home, away from their
captors, to open arms of a
grateful nation.
The American flag reminds us that many of them
may never return.
and have paid the supreme sacrifice to insure
our freedom.
Let us pray to the Supreme Commander that all
of our comrades will
soon be back within our
ranks:
Let us remember-and never forget their
sacrifice.
May God forever watch over them and protect
them and their families.
