11/11/2009 Veteran’s Day

Today our park had a Veteran’s Day service for all those Veteran’s in the park. We have quite a few. The program was well put together, interesting and moving.

Volunteers from the park explained symbols of Veteran's Day, read poems and honored the Canadian Veteran's. Roll call was taken of each Veteran and the years they served. We sang the songs of each branch of the service and we prayed.

The decorations were tasteful and just what the occasion called for.

I think what really hit home for most of us was this……The Missing Man Table

This table is a way of acknowledging that members of our proud profession of arms are missing from our midst, unable to be here on this day because they answered the call to duty and never returned. They are our comrades, prisoners of war, missing in action or killed in action.

Each segment of this table has a special meaning.

• The table is round – to show our everlasting concern for our missing men
• The small flags represent our service members from each of the five services – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
• The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms
• The single rose displayed in the vase reminds us of the families and loved ones, who keep the faith and await their return
• The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing
• A slice of lemon on the plate to remind us of their bitter fate and salt to represent the families tears as they wait
• The glass is inverted – to symbolize their inability to share with us today
• The chair is empty; they are not here

Today we need to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to those veteran’s who are still with us and to remember those who gave their all.

God bless our troops.