National POW/MIA Recognition Day was observed recently with a 24-hour weekend vigil by the Tioga County Veteran organizations and auxiliary groups in front of the Tioga County Veterans Memorial, Civil War Medal of Honor Memorial and Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial on the south lawn of the Tioga County Courthouse.
Veterans performed the vigil by the POW/MIA Table.
The Missing Man Table, also known as the Fallen Comrade Table, is a place of honor in memory of fallen, missing or imprisoned military service members. The table serves as the focal point of the POW/MIA vigil.
The table is set for one, symbolizing the frailty of one isolated prisoner. The table is round to represent everlasting concern on the part of survivors for their missing loved one.
The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intention to respond to their country’s call to arms.
Photo credit: Jim Raftis, Sr.
A single red rose in the vase signifies the blood that many have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved U.S.A.
Yellow ribbon on the vase represents the yellow ribbons worn on the lapels of the thousands who demand a proper accounting of our comrades who are not among us.
A slice of lemon on the bread plate represents the bitter fate of the missing.
Salt sprinkled on the bread plate is symbolic of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.
Inverted glass represents the fact that the missing and fallen cannot partake.
The empty chair signifies that the missing and fallen aren’t present.
Local veterans encourage restaurants, businesses, and organizations to set up a POW/MIA table in a visible spot to remind the community of the sacrifices made.
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