Attending Missing Man Table ceremony an honor

On Sunday, Veterans Day, I was invited to take in the Missing Man Table ceremony at the Montana Veterans' Home. The invitation came from MaryBeth Arnold, one of the first people I met when I moved to Columbia Falls. I really knew her before I came to the Flathead. She was scouting around for a place for me to live in town.

The connection: MaryBeth is the state Veterans of Foreign Wars treasurer and former state president. She has been working on VFW duties with my sister, Jane Loucks, who is the state secretary and also a former VFW president. Jane and her husband, Ron, live in Thompson Falls. Jane and MaryBeth have opened their hearts to veterans through the VFW for years.

This was my first Missing Man Table ceremony and it felt good to be there with a number of veterans, some from the Veterans' Home and others who live elsewhere in the area. The annual ceremony honors prisoners of war (P.O.W.'s) and those missing in action (M.I.A.) from World War II through the Cold War. They are soldiers who never returned to their homeland, the USA.

In attendance were Kirby Campbell-Rierson from Sen. Max Baucus' office and Virginia Sloan from the office of Sen. Jon Tester. Each read a message from the respective senator, saluting veterans and emphasizing the meaning of Veterans Day.

Mike Bennett of Bigfork was the program emcee. He's state commander of the Military Order of the Cootie, the men's auxiliary of the VFW. Mike is also VFW state chaplain. He was assisted by his wife, Dianna, who is the VFW Ladies Auxiliary state representative for the Montana Veterans' Home, Reggie Houston and MaryBeth. Reggie is a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary #4042 in Bigfork.

For the readers who are unfamiliar with the Missing Man Table ceremony, I'll explain the significance.

On the table are displayed six empty place settings representing Americans still missing from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard or civilians. Breaking down what is on the table and the significance.

? The roundness of the table stands for our everlasting concern for the missing.

? The whiteness of the tablecloth symbolizes the purity of the motives of those who answered the call to duty.

? The single red rose in a vase is there as a reminder of the lives of each of the missing and their loved ones who keep the faith, still waiting for answers.

? The red ribbon tied around the vase shows our continued determination to account for the missing.

? The lemon slice at each bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.

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

? The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, which was founded as one nation under God.

? An inverted glass symbolizes their inability to share in the day's toast.

As Mike read those explanations of the table parts, Dianna, MaryBeth and Reggie placed them on the table. Mike went on to read, "The highest tribute this organization can render those persons, the most profound respect all of us can demonstrate, is the application to our own lives the strong faith and undaunted courage which was theirs. Remember, they represent the highest level of commitment to defending the principles of freedom that have made our nation great."

Each year we pay tribute to the men and women who have defended the freedom of our country, many of them who gave their lives, as well as those who are serving in the Armed Forces. We often forget the Americans who were prisoners of war and missing in action. They never returned to their home soil, but we will remember the sacrifice they made for their country.

We are truly the land of the free and home of the brave. Lee Greenwood's song will always be part of my memory — "God Bless the USA!"

Joe Sova is the managing editor for the Hungry Horse News.