Do you know or care what this Friday is??

You should...

Published on September 17, 2007 By ShadowWar In Current Events

Many people in the United States have no idea a special day approaches, one that honors many soldiers. One that honors more than 78,000 soldiers. This Friday, September 21st, 2007 is National MIA/POW Memorial Day. A day to honor and remember those that never came home, a day to honor those whose families still ask for answers and closure.

There are men still missing in Iraq that have not been found. Four to be exact. Two of those are Pvt. Byron W. Fouty and Spc. Alex R. Jimenez. Captured on May 12th, 2007 when their observation post was overrun. The terrorist have claimed to have killed both and buried their bodies where they will not be found and returned to their families. No matter where you stand on the war in Iraq, you should stand for minute of silence on the 21st, this Friday, to recognize the sacrifice of these soldiers.

If you want to attend a sobering ceremony, go to one of your local veterans’ groups ceremonies this Friday and listen to this…

‘Ladies and gentleman, Veterans and family members of those still missing, 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 ones.

Set for six, the empty places represent Americans still 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 in this room were very young when they were sent into combat; however, all Americans should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation's call and served the cause of freedom in a special way.

I would like to ask you to stand, and remain standing for a moment of silent prayer, as the Honor Guard places the five service covers and a civilian cap on each empty plate.’

Then the speaker would continue with this,

‘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 missing men.

The tablecloth 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 of these Americans 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/MIAs and to the success of our efforts to account for them.’

After that you should have a deeper sense of respect for those that are serving and those that are missing and still have not been brought home to rest.

God bless our troops and those still missing.. may you be brought home to rest and be honored as you so richly deserve..

By Chris Wagoner,
Former 3rd Infantry Division Soldier

A video on the two recent missing soldiers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f58Y96CXiE

Comments (Page 1)

JillUser

on Sep 17, 2007

Thanks for pointing this out. I try to point out to my kids every day how good they have it and why they have it (others' sacrifice).

Thank you.

ParaTed2k

on Sep 17, 2007

Let's Honor them by bringing the ones who are still alive home, and accounting for those who aren't.

President after President... Congress after Congress... It doesn't matter what side of the aisle they park their butts... They are under condemnation for every POW/MIA that went ignored during their tenure.

Where, for example, is Lt. Commander Scott Speicher?

ShadowWar

on Sep 17, 2007

Lemon is sour, not bitter.

The ribbon should be yellow for remembrance, not red.

And since this nation was founded on religious freedom, and not all of our POW/MIA's (are) were Christian, I'd skip the Bible altogether and choose a more generic representation of Diety, (all in the name of political correctness, of course.)

Sorry the service was written by the family members .. tell them all you can do out of all that is find fault with it.. gheesh..

ShadowWar

on Sep 17, 2007

Sorry to have bothered you, SW, I guess I should have limited my commentary to "ooh, ahh, how sweet."

Ya I would have gone for that..

Trudygolightly

on Sep 17, 2007

ShadowWar:

Thank you for this post.

Words aren't enough.

OckhamsRazor

on Sep 17, 2007

Actually, the ribbon IS yellow - usually. And I don't know who the service was written by, but it's been a part of every military ball I've ever done in 17 years (about 60 of them).

This ceremony is known in the military as being for "Our Fallen Comrades" - those who have made the "Ultimate Sacrifice" as they say. Usually Taps is played at the end. It works equally well for POW/MIAs.

Sorry for the commentary, but when you enter the arena of military ceremonies, that's my specialty - it's what I do.

ShadowWar

on Sep 17, 2007

I got it from the Department of Defense offical website for MIA/POW's: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/powday/missingman.htm

It's called "MISSING MAN TABLE & HONORS CEREMONY " and it was

Courtesy of:
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES
OF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND MISSING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

There can we now stop picking the ceremony apart and get back the the idea behind it, to recognize those that have not come home. I am almost sorry to have posted this...

Trudygolightly

on Sep 17, 2007

I am almost sorry to have posted this...

I'm not sorry you posted this, it will get forwarded to my son, who supports the effort for the POW/MIA. I know it will touch his heart too as it did mine, as well as making me aware of the day. Again, THANK YOU!

danielost

on Sep 17, 2007

choose a more generic representation of Diety,

what is more generic than the word god.

the gods of the myths.

the only religion that i know of that doesn't refer to a god is Buddhist. since Buddha isn't supposed to be a god.

danielost

on Sep 17, 2007

ok i am sorry

but then again the christian god is also the jewish god.

and most non christians for some reason of a problem when a christian uses the word god. or haven't you noticed that.

stevendedalus

on Sep 18, 2007

That leaves a whole lot of other faiths unrepresented

Perhaps the speakers should have a laptop zeroed in on Google to search all the religions of the world.

stevendedalus

on Sep 18, 2007

If after that you do not have a deeper sense of respect for those that are serving and those that are missing and still have not been brought home to rest, then you need a new sense of humanity. And to have your head removed from your …….

Better left unsaid in such a somber blog.

ShadowWar

on Sep 18, 2007

Do to the fact that people have seen fit to turn this into a debate on my wording or the ceremony itself... not the meaning of the overall subject or idea behind honoring those still missing, I have closed responses to the post, and edited the post so as not to offend anyone who does not like my opinion on something. You are free to pass it on if you wish, or dump it in the trash also. I leave that up to you.

ShadowWar

on Sep 18, 2007

LW,

I am secure in my knowledge I have done more, seen more, and suffered more than most. Your pathetic attempt at a bait rant will not work, use as many childish comments as you want. I stopped the posting on my blog, post all you want here. I get tired of talking to children who pretent to be reasoning, caring adults.

Your words: wimp, pissy, nazi, and of course "Go pout if you like, SW, some 'soldier' you are! (need a hanky?)" is childish, also you have very little knowledge at all of my "soldier" background.

And the funny part was I NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT GOD. You brouhgt all that up, I simply pointed out the post was not about what should or should not be in the ceremony, but what it stands for, regardless of your view on Christianity or whatever it is you believe in, or whatever color ribbon you thought should be on the vase. In the grand scheme of things, isn't that rather minor? Have a great day LW, I wish you well and happiness.

ShadowWar

on Sep 18, 2007

I hope you respond once more, just to explain what it is I've said that's made you so uncomfortable? Surely you don't have a personal problem with honoring non-Christian POW/MIAs with the same reverence accorded to those who embrace Christ and the Bible as their spiritual authority?

Absolutly nothing.

Its all a big misunderstanding.

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