A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-01-04...A Table Set For One

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

You Are Not Forgotten

Several months ago my niece, FReeper "scubachick", sent me an article from The Charlotte Observer about a tradition observed aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN75), to honor our POW/MIAs, and about the sailor who had volunteered to maintain it during his assignment in the wardroom. I had not heard of this tradition and the story touched my heart. Scubachick and I thought it would be an interesting subject for a post here on this "Finest" thread where we daily honor our military, past and present.

I have since learned that this tradition is often a part of military and veteran's banquets, dinners, and other occasions where setting up a dinner table would be appropriate.

At A Table Set For One,
A Reminder For All

Dateline, March 24, 2003, aboard the USS Harry S Truman in the Eastern Mediterranean -......by Sandy Bauers Knight Ridder

[excerpt]......Steven DeLuna approaches the tiny white table with reverence. He picks up the white plate ever so carefully. Meticulously, he dusts around the pile of salt in the center. He dusts the white tablecloth underneath.

Most of the time aboard this aircraft carrier, DeLuna, 19, of Plano, Texas, works with the Sea Sparrow air to air missile. But now, during a temporary duty in the wardroom, he's made it a personal mission to care for this solitary table, set for one, where no one ever sits.

The table is dedicated to the honor and memory of POWS and MIAS. While other chairs in the room have covers of royal blue trimmed in gold, the single chair at this table is covered in white.

Even when the room is rearranged for special events, the white table stays put.

DeLuna knows and appreciates Navy traditions. He knew what the table meant and asked to clean it during his stint in the wardroom.

"The entire time I'm cleaning", he said, "I just know that's one of those things to be solemn for. I try to be more on the respectful side, not rushing through it."

Similar tables exist throughout the military. There are variations, but most are small like this one. It's size symbolizes "the fragility of one prisoner against the oppressor", according to a small placard on the table.

Lest We Forget...

"The Missing Man Ceremony"

The Missing Man Ceremony is a dignified and solemn moment in many formal dinners and other occasions. There have been many different narratives written for the ceremony, but the symbolism is quite constant.

The Missing Man Ceremony usually follows the "Posting of the Colors" and the "National Anthem" in the order of the program.

Moderator: "As you entered the Mess this evening, you may have noticed a small table in the place of honor. It is set for one. Please let me explain. The military caste is filled with symbology. 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 P.O.W or M.I.A. 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 aggressors. REMEMBER!!

The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms. REMEMBER!!

REMEMBER, 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 his return.

REMEMBER, the red ribbon tied so prominently to the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn on the lapel and breast of those 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.

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!!

REMEMBER, the candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation.

REMEMBER--all of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended upon their might and aid, and relied upon them, for surely, they have not forsaken you.

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 sacrifices. May God forever watch over them and protect them and their families."

Thank you to the following sources
for information and graphics:

The Charlotte Observer
Rolling Thunder- Missing Man Ceremony
The Retired Enlisted Association









In memory of our POW/MIAs and, in particular,
these two men whose names are engraved on the
bracelets my husband and I wore for many years.

RICHARD LEE AYERS - MIA
KENNETH ROBBINS CAMERON - POW
(Died in captivity - Remains Returned 06 March 1974)



God Bless our missing and
those who wait for their return.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-30-04 Military Monday 08-31-04 RNC Showtime! Shock and Awe!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

CLICK

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

If you would like to be added to the Finest ping list, we would love to have you! Click -----> PLEASE ADD ME.
If you would like to be removed, click -----> PLEASE REMOVE ME.

[cyborg]

Tonight's RNC installment was AWESOME. Steele, the Governator,Bush twins,Laura...poor democrats.

[Mama_Bear]

Tonight's RNC installment was AWESOME. Steele, the Governator,Bush twins,Laura...poor democrats.

It sure was! Made me proud to be a Republican!

[cyborg]

me too! :-)

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

Good night, cyborg, and all you lurking night owls out there. Time for this bear to call it a day. I'll be back in the morning.

[cyborg]

good night :-)

[RaceBannon]

THE BLOOD ON KERRY'S HANDS

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for this presentation, MB. I wasn't aware of this moving tradition.

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you so much, Finest Niece, for sending me this article and for giving me the idea for this post. :-)

[cyborg]

I wonder if Kerry goes to sleep well at night. It doesn't matter what we think or say. When he dies, he'll have to answer for his numerous crimes including making veterans cry about long forgotten memories.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for this presentation, MB. I wasn't aware of this moving tradition.

You're welcome. I had not heard of it either until my niece sent me the article.

Scubachick tells me that she has a small table like this set up in her dining room in remembrance of our POW/MIAs. I think that is a nice idea.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for the link to your post, RaceBannon. I have skimmed it and have bookmarked it to read more closely tomorrow.

It will be an absolute travesty if Kerry is somehow elected. My mind just cannot accept the idea of having him as President and Commander in Chief of our military. The thought of it just makes me feel sick.

“We didn’t lose the war on the ground in Vietnam, we lost it at home, and at home John Kerry was the field general.”.....Veteran Robert G. Elder

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[JustAmy]

Wonderful thread, MB.

I had not hear of this tradition; it brought tears to my eyes as I read it.

I wonder how John F. Kerry can sleep at night knowing that he caused so much suffering by our POWs. If elected, he would be our traitor in chief.

I cannot believe the American people will elect a Traitor to be our next president.

Thank you for this beautiful, moving thread and thank Scuba Chick for getting this info to you.

God Bless our Military, God Bless America and God Bless George W. Bush.

[GailA]

Good morning FInest.

[The Mayor]

September 1, 2004

A Friend Of Sinners

Read: Matthew 9:9-13

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. —Luke 5:32

Bible In One Year: Psalms 135-136; 1 Corinthians 12

---

Jesus was having dinner one evening when "many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him" (Matthew 9:10). The religious leaders of that day were outraged by His behavior. Their conclusion was that Jesus was a friend of sinners, and as it turns out, He was. "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

Jesus was morally separate from sinners and never took part in their lifestyle. Yet He did not separate Himself physically from sinful people. He spent time with them and became their friend.

Just like Jesus, you and I can't help but rub shoulders with all kinds of people in our daily activities. Tertullian, an early Roman writer, described the relationships between the Christians and non-Christians of his day this way: "We live among you, eat the same food, wear the same clothes . . . . We sojourn with you in the world, renouncing neither forum, nor market, nor bath, nor booth, nor workshop, nor inn . . . . We till the ground with you, we join with you in business ventures."

We too must seek the lost, as Jesus did—and it doesn't take much effort. It's good to ask ourselves from time to time, "How many friends do I have who are lost?" —David Roper

Lead me to some soul today,
O teach me, Lord, just what to say;
Friends of mine are lost in sin
And cannot find their way. —Houghton
© 1936, 1964 Hope Publishing Co.

To be a friend of Jesus is to be a friend of sinners.

[Temple Owl]

Good morning Mama and FReepers everywhere,

[Billie]

Scubachick tells me that she has a small table like this set up in her dining room in remembrance of our POW/MIAs. I think that is a nice idea.

Thank you both for today's thread, and what a beautiful thing for you to do with the small table in your dining room, Scubachick. I also had never heard of this before. Thank you for sharing the story with us.