While many people are out, celebrating this weekend with
barbecues and pecan pies, let us not forget what this day is truly about. Too
often, we get this holiday confused with Veterans Day, and suddenly, we have
turned Memorial Day into another fourth of July celebration. After seeing my
friends and family serve in the military, and watching them go through the most
painful situations, it does my heart so good to see them serve. It was also one
of my dreams to even join the military. If I had to choose any job in the
military, it would be to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To be honest,
that was my dream job. However, things have to change, but throughout my ROTC
years, the best part of military balls, was to watch the symbolic, prisoner of
war ceremony. The room was quiet, and we stood at the door. While everyone sat
at there tables, there was one that was empty, and nobody caught on. Slowly we
marched to the table, one by one, and It went a little something like this.
A Cadet begins to speak these exact words.
‘YOU MAY
HAVE NOTICED THE TABLE SET BEFORE YOU. IT IS FILLED WITH SYMBOLISM. I WILL
EXPLAIN.
THIS TABLE IS SET FOR OUR PRISONERS OF WAR AND THOSE MISSING IN ACTION — FROM ALL WARS.
THEY ARE NOT WITH US TODAY. THEIR CHAIRS ARE EMPTY, BUT SAVED FOR THEIR HOPED RETURN. LET US REMEMBER THEIR ABSENCE.
LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES ARMY. LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES NAVY. LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
LET US REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN PRISONERS OF WAR FROM ALL BRANCHES OF SERVICE THAT ARE TOO OFTEN FORGOTTEN. LET US REMEMBER THEM.
THE TABLE CLOTH IS WHITE, SYMBOLIZING THE PURITY OF THEIR INTENTIONS TO RESPOND TO THEIR COUNTRY’S CALL TO ARMS — SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN COULD REMAIN FREE. REMEMBER.
THE LONE CANDLE SYMBOLIZES THE FRAILTY OF A PRISONER ALONE, TRYING TO STAND UP AGAINST HIS OPPRESSORS. REMEMBER.
THE BLACK RIBBON ON THE CANDLE REMINDS US OF THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE COMING HOME. REMEMBER
THE SINGLE ROSE REMINDS US OF THE LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES OF OUR COMRADES IN ARMS WHO KEEP THE FAITH AND AWAIT THEIR RETURN. REMEMBER.
A SLICE OF LEMON IS ON THE BREAD PLATE TO REMIND US OF THEIR BITTER FATE — IF WE DO NOT BRING THEM HOME. REMEMBER.
THERE IS SALT ON THE PLATE, SYMBOLIC OF THE FAMILY’S TEARS AS THEY WAIT AND REMEMBER.
THE GLASSES ARE INVERTED. THEY CANNOT TOAST WITH US TONIGHT — MAYBE TOMORROW, IF WE REMEMBER.
THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE RIBBONS ARE TIED TO THE FLOWER VASE BY A YELLOW RIBBON THAT REPRESENTS THE YELLOW RIBBONS WORN ON THE LAPELS OF THE THOUSANDS WHO DEMAND, WITH UNYIELDING DETERMINATION, A PROPER ACCOUNT OF OUR COMRADES WHO ARE NOT AMONG US. REMEMBER.
THE FADED PICTURE ON THE TABLE IS A REMINDER THAT THEY ARE MISSED VERY MUCH AND ARE REMEMBERED BY THEIR FAMILIES. REMEMBER.
AS WE LOOK UPON THIS EMPTY TABLE, DO NOT REMEMBER GHOSTS FROM THE PAST, REMEMBER OUR COMRADES.
REMEMBER THOSE WHOM WE DEPENDED ON IN BATTLE. THEY DEPEND ON US TO BRING THEM HOME.
REMEMBER OUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE THE ONES WE LOVE — WHO LOVE LIFE AND FREEDOM AS WE DO.
THEY WILL REMEMBER WHAT WE DO. PLEASE HONOR AND REMEMBER THEM.’
THIS TABLE IS SET FOR OUR PRISONERS OF WAR AND THOSE MISSING IN ACTION — FROM ALL WARS.
THEY ARE NOT WITH US TODAY. THEIR CHAIRS ARE EMPTY, BUT SAVED FOR THEIR HOPED RETURN. LET US REMEMBER THEIR ABSENCE.
LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES ARMY. LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES NAVY. LET US REMEMBER THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
LET US REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN PRISONERS OF WAR FROM ALL BRANCHES OF SERVICE THAT ARE TOO OFTEN FORGOTTEN. LET US REMEMBER THEM.
THE TABLE CLOTH IS WHITE, SYMBOLIZING THE PURITY OF THEIR INTENTIONS TO RESPOND TO THEIR COUNTRY’S CALL TO ARMS — SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN COULD REMAIN FREE. REMEMBER.
THE LONE CANDLE SYMBOLIZES THE FRAILTY OF A PRISONER ALONE, TRYING TO STAND UP AGAINST HIS OPPRESSORS. REMEMBER.
THE BLACK RIBBON ON THE CANDLE REMINDS US OF THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE COMING HOME. REMEMBER
THE SINGLE ROSE REMINDS US OF THE LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES OF OUR COMRADES IN ARMS WHO KEEP THE FAITH AND AWAIT THEIR RETURN. REMEMBER.
A SLICE OF LEMON IS ON THE BREAD PLATE TO REMIND US OF THEIR BITTER FATE — IF WE DO NOT BRING THEM HOME. REMEMBER.
THERE IS SALT ON THE PLATE, SYMBOLIC OF THE FAMILY’S TEARS AS THEY WAIT AND REMEMBER.
THE GLASSES ARE INVERTED. THEY CANNOT TOAST WITH US TONIGHT — MAYBE TOMORROW, IF WE REMEMBER.
THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE RIBBONS ARE TIED TO THE FLOWER VASE BY A YELLOW RIBBON THAT REPRESENTS THE YELLOW RIBBONS WORN ON THE LAPELS OF THE THOUSANDS WHO DEMAND, WITH UNYIELDING DETERMINATION, A PROPER ACCOUNT OF OUR COMRADES WHO ARE NOT AMONG US. REMEMBER.
THE FADED PICTURE ON THE TABLE IS A REMINDER THAT THEY ARE MISSED VERY MUCH AND ARE REMEMBERED BY THEIR FAMILIES. REMEMBER.
AS WE LOOK UPON THIS EMPTY TABLE, DO NOT REMEMBER GHOSTS FROM THE PAST, REMEMBER OUR COMRADES.
REMEMBER THOSE WHOM WE DEPENDED ON IN BATTLE. THEY DEPEND ON US TO BRING THEM HOME.
REMEMBER OUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE THE ONES WE LOVE — WHO LOVE LIFE AND FREEDOM AS WE DO.
THEY WILL REMEMBER WHAT WE DO. PLEASE HONOR AND REMEMBER THEM.’
Let us never forget, and let us remember that this day isn’t
about a barbecue, nor are we just thanking the veterans and service men and
women, but we’re honoring and remembering those who have died. Let us all remember
and mourn with those military families.
