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Open Poetry #43
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POW/MIA Missing Man Ceremony
| Open Poetry #43 |
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POW/MIA Missing Man Ceremony |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! 
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If you have never seen one of these moving Ceremonies please make it a point to do so. Abe POW/MIA Missing Man Ceremony There’s a table in the front Raised so that it draws attention Reserved for all those missing Still not found or in detention. Set for six of those missing One each, for branches Serving One place for lost Civilians Whom, are felt just as deserving. The table is shaped in the round For the everlasting concern As all of us, hope and pray Someday they all, will return. The tablecloth is bright white To symbolize the purity Of those, answering the call Of their Country, doing their Duty. The single rose, in a vase For the lifeblood of those lost And for those awaiting answers A sad part of Wartime’s cost. The vase, tied with red ribbon A symbol of determination To account for those still missing In the Service of our Nation. A slice of lemon on the bread plate For missing/captured in a foreign land The bitter fate of some Heroes Who chose to make a valiant stand. A pinch of salt for all those tears Shed, by missing and their Families Seeking answers to their questions From all those faraway countries. The Bible represents the strength Gained through Faith, to sustain Those missing on foreign shores Where, far too many, still remain! Each of their glasses are inverted Because, they can’t share the toast That, one day we can account for them What we want, first and foremost. The candle is a light of Hope To illuminate the way back home To the loved ones who are waiting Across the sea to Homeland’s loam. The chair just sits there empty A place saved for just the one Who has yet, to come home And one each, for their brethren. An Honor Guard places covers On each empty dinner plate For the Services and Civilian Who have met, this terrible fate. “Taps” is played, and “Some Gave All” With a spotlight on their table With a toast, for their accounting, sworn For, as long as we all are able. This solemn Honors Ceremony Symbolizes they are here with us Hoping someday, they will be back This wish, the most, in God we trust. This can be done for six or one For, the meaning is the same That all, will be returned one day This, we pray, in Heaven’s Name. 07.19.2008 Abe, I sent your poem paying tribute to POW/Missing vets to a friend in Iraq who serves over there as a contractor doing work for the Iraqis...he's a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel...he sent back a reply that the mess hall where he eats regularly has such a table set up for Missing/POW for all to see who come in there...he thought it ironic to receive that poem. So, i replied back to him, "why don't you see what you can do to have the poem displayed on the table"...well, he replied back with the email that i am forwarding to you...i thought you'd want to know that your poem is getting displayed in the war zone. Keep up the good work, Herb Herb I verified that the poem sits directly across from the reserved chair. Adjacent to the rose. Our table has only one chair and is leaned against the table as if to reserve the seat. Best Regards Bill Del "Abe" Jones Mankind's greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology, it is the evolution of creativity. [This message has been edited by Abe (07-20-2008 04:12 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2008 Del - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
quote: Through your heartfelt words I can feel that this is indeed a very touching ceremony, dear Abe. What infinite pain war brings with it. Love, Margherita |
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