VFW remembers POWs, MIAs

Lynn A. Wade/Daily Mail Members and guests of the Ralph V. Bobbett VFW Post No. 2175, Nevada, salute the U.S. flag and the POW/MIA flag as a color guard from the Junior AFROTC, Nevada, prepares to close a POW/MIA recognition ceremony conducted on Friday, Sept. 21, by retiring the colors. Members of the color guard flank the Missing Man table, a table set for one, symbolizing the absence of those still captive or missing.

While an audience of family and friends of area veterans watched with somber respect, the VFW Ralph Bobbit Post No. 2175 conducted a traditional POW/MIA remembrance ceremony on Friday, Sept. 21.

Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans' facilities. This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families' POW/MIA flag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The flag is to be flown at major military installations, national cemeteries, all post offices, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans affairs, the director of the selective service system and the White House, according to VFW.org.

According to military records accessed through VFW.org, one person is still missing in action from the Gulf War, missing since Jan. 17, 1991. A total of more than 88,000 Americans are still missing from World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam and from the Cold War era.

During the local ceremony, state commander Jerry Jones, spoke of a the unit assigned to search for and rescue or recover MIAs, noting that only recently have these dedicated soldiers been awarded hazardous duty pay. He said that these people are often digging several feet in soil in which they could encounter land mines, old grenades and more. From time to time, they find remains -- sometimes very old remains, and through DNA are able to identify the remains and return them to the United States. Two years ago, he noted, the unit found the remains of a World War I MIA in France. Using the DNA of family members, the remains were identified.

The remembrance continued with presentation of colors by and honor guard provided by the Nevada High School Junior AFROTC color guard, recitation of the "Pledge of Allegiance," playing of the national anthem and a remembrance ceremony in which VFW and auxiliary members placed traditional symbols of honor near a small formally set table for one -- the Missing Man table.

Darlene Tweten read the meaning of the table to the audience. A portion of the traditional explanation, which was adapted for use for the local ceremony follows:

"The tablecloth is white -- symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

"The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and the loved ones and friends of these 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.

"A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.

"A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers.

"The glass is inverted -- to symbolize their inability to share.

"The chair is empty -- they are missing."

Ladies auxiliary member Linda Sewell performed the song "Arlington," and Brian Leonard played "Taps."