Missing Man and Honors Ceremony
Honor Guard
(In silence or with dignified, quiet music as background, the Honor Guard moves into position around the table and simultaneously places the covers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, and a Civilian hat, on the dinner plate of each 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 missing men.
The tablecloth is white-- symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
The single red rose, displayed in the vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends of those 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.
The slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured or missing in a foreign land.
The 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 one nation under God.
The glass in inverted-- to symbolize their inability to share this evening's [morning's/day'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.
