The reception for the Desert Storm veterans Saturday was so nice. The VFW Post members and Auxiliary wives did an excellent job decorating and preparing for the reception.
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make these kinds of events happen. The Auxiliary members are definitely the spokes in the wheels for every event that the VFW hosts such as the Memorial Day each May and Veteran’s Day program in November.
The tables were beautifully decorated and the tables were loaded with food that the auxiliary ladies had prepared. The memorabilia table had lots of photo albums and pictures from the unit’s deployment and welcome home celebration as well other items of interest from 25 years ago.
There also was a POW/MIA table displayed at the reception. For those of who may not be familiar with the POW/MIA table, the POW table is a single table setting for one person to signify the prisoners of war and those missing in action. This practice has been in place since the end of the Vietnam War.
Here is the meaning of the table and items included in the setting.
The table cloth is white to symbolize the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve. The single red rose reminds us of the lives of these Americans and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, while seeking answers. The yellow ribbons symbolizes our continued uncertainty, hope for their return and determination to account for them. A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate, captured and missing in a foreign land. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of the missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty. The lighted candle reflects our hope for their return – alive or dead. The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God. The glass is inverted to symbolize their inability to share a toast. The chair is empty – they are still missing.
Although our unit did not have any POW/MIA, I wanted to recognize the VFW post and Auxiliary for always preparing a POW/MIA table setting at their events to honor the missing men and women of our military.
