Missing Man Table
The Missing Man Table (in German about table for the missing or missing man / comrade) is a kind of place of honor in memory of fallen , missing (Missing In Action (MIA)) or prisoner of war (POW) soldiers in every dining room in the US armed forces . The table is usually in the area of the entrance to the dining room or clearly visible on a wall. For large events, the Missing Man Table is set for six people. There is one place setting each for members of the Army , Navy , United States Marine Corps , Air Force and Coast Guard . The sixth place setting at the table commemorates the civilians who died or went missing while serving in the armed forces.
Structure and symbolism
The unoccupied place means that the missing or fallen soldier can no longer be with his comrades. The table is white; this is supposed to symbolize the purity of the intentions, which is why the comrade once stood up for the army of his country. A red rose symbolizes the love of the soldier's family, a red ribbon around the vase symbolizes the many widows due to the death of countless comrades. A lemon wedge on the plate represents the bitter taste of loss, a pinch of salt for the tears of families. An upturned glass means that the fallen man can no longer toast with his comrades.
Web links
- Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony (pdf; 20 kB) on airforcechiefs.org