MIA/POW day

[Fire Marshal Bill]

You may notice this small table here in a place of honor. It is set for one. This table is our way of symbolizing that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst. They are commonly call P.O.W.'s or M.I.A.'s, we call them brothers.

They are unable to be with us this evening and so we remember them.

This table set for one is small... it symbolizes the frailty of one prisoner against his oppressors.

The table cloth is white... it symbolizes the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms.

The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades in arms who keep faith awaiting their return.

The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn on the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting for our missing.

A slice of lemon is on the bread plate... to remind us of their bitter fate.

There is salt upon the bread plate... symbolic of the family's tears as they wait.

The glass is inverted... they cannot toast with us tonight.

The chair is empty... they are not here.

Remember... all of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended on their might and aid, and relied on them... for surely... they have not forsaken you.

[Venter]

Thanks FMB.

There should be another Classification for those who "Returned" but never quite came back to us.

A good childhood buddy of mine came back with drug issues.
Although he was on submarine duty, evidently drugs were prevalent enough to have affected him.
Never the same again.

"Returned But Damaged"

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Sept 20, 2013 15:43:39 GMT -5 Venter said:

Thanks FMB.

There should be another Classification for those who "Returned" but never quite came back to us.

A good childhood buddy of mine came back with drug issues.
Although he was on submarine duty, evidently drugs were prevalent enough to have affected him.
Never the same again.

"Returned But Damaged"

I agree Venter. I came back and turned out pretty good and didn't have any serious problems. (Ok that is my opinion, and I know some will not agree.) But I know many who have had some serious problems. Yes, at least during the Vietnam era drugs were very prevalent and may still be. Alcohol has always been a problem in so many ways, from men and women who are separated from loved ones, and turn to the bottle to those who have had some very traumatic experiences and turn to the bottle to forget.

Of course there is also the Post Traumatic affects on these young men and women, and I think it is even more prevalent today that before.

Up until Vietnam, from the time the troops left combat, it was weeks or months till they finally got home. They had a chance to "decompress" on the trip home while they were still with the brothers and sisters they experienced combat with before being "released" to the general population.

Starting in Vietnam, these men and women are returning home to a "normal" live in a matter of days. One day they are in the bunkers eating field rations, and dodging bullets, rockets and mortars, and in two or three days they are back at home, away from their comrades they shared these dangers with, and are the the arms of their families, with very few people around them that can relate to those experiences.