Happy 235 Birthday!

This month the United States Army celebrates its 235th birthday - happy birthday! In honor of that, Austin and I went to the Army Birthday Ball Friday night that his battalion puts on every year. Miss Kim came over to watch William so we were able to leave easily knowing he would be fine for the evening.

The balls are always fun - what wouldn't be fun about getting dressed up, seeing hubby in his uniform, and going out for an evening of good food, good company, good music, and good birthday cake? I always enjoy the festivities, but my favorite part of the evening comes at the very beginning and it chokes me up every time. If you've ever been to a formal military function or to a memorial such as the WWII memorial museum in San Diego you will have seen this display before. It is a presentation in honor of our soldiers who are still missing in action.



The ball began with a social cocktail hour, then everyone entered the ballroom through a receiving line, shaking the hands of the hosts for the evening. Once we were all seated, the color guard came in, posted the colors, and the national anthem was sang. After the national anthem formal toasts were made, such as "To the United States of America" - to which we all replied, "To the Union". We toasted the 4 branches of service, the president - I personally chose to sit out of the second toast of "To the Commander in Chief". Call me disrespectful if you want, but I just stood there silently - and Immediately after is when the POW-MIA presentation is made.

Because I can't say it better than the presentation is written out, I have copied the verbiage off the Internet and I'm including a picture of the table. As the MC read the following script, the color guard members took turns adding each item to the table, then bowing in silence.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CENTER OF OUR GATHERING. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE TABLE SET BEFORE YOU. 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 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. THE LONE CANDLE SYMBOLIZES THE FRAILTY OF A PRISONER ALONE, TRYING TO STAND UP AGAINST HIS OPPRESSORS. THE BLACK RIBBON ON THE CANDLE REMINDS US OF THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE COMING HOME.

THE SINGLE RED ROSE REMINDS US OF THE LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES OF OUR COMRADES IN ARMS WHO KEEP THE FAITH AND AWAIT THEIR RETURN. A SLICE OF LEMON IS ON THE BREAD PLATE TO REMIND US OF THEIR BITTER FATE -- IF WE DO NOT BRING THEM HOME. 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.

THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE RIBBON IS TIED TO THE FLOWER VASE BY A YELLOW RIBBON THAT WAS WORN BY THOUSANDS WHO AWAITED THEIR RETURN.

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.

It is a somber moment and makes you really think about the people who went missing and are never heard from again. I can't imagine the empty feeling and the frustration with the lack of closure that these parents, spouses, siblings and friends must feel. After the presentation was over, we all raised water glasses rather than wine and toasted in silence.

It is thanks to hundreds of thousands of people who never made it home that we are able to celebrate the Army's 235 birthday. So Happy birthday to the army - and I send out a prayer to those POW-MIA's and their families: May God bless you and keep you. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.