POW/MIA Ceremony
Marines of Detachment 927 have performed the POW/MIA (Missing Man) Ceremony many time throughout the year. Each time it is delivered….hope for our current POW/MIA still missing from all wars reaches out to the public at large and offers a small glimmer that each service member will be accounted for and brought home.
The POW/MIA Ceremony is a dignified and solemn moment in many formal dinners and other occasions. There have been many different narratives written for the ceremony, but the symbolism is quite constant. It involves a table, usually set off to the side, with a single chair. The table is set with a white table cloth, a single candle, an inverted glass, and a single red rose in a vase, around which is tied a red ribbon. Set at the table is a bread plate containing a piece of bread, a slice of lemon, and a small mound of salt.
History of the POW/MIA (Missing Man) Table Ceremony -
There is nothing more poignant than witnessing the empty chair sitting at a POW/MIA table with incredible significance for every displayed feature of this ritual. Witnessing the ceremony that accompanies this memorable event brings more than just a simple emotion. There are numerous websites that describes the ceremony and the various procedures within the event but the origin of the “Missing Man” POW/MIA ceremony is documented mostly by word of mouth. However, through research I now have 2 variations of how the ceremony developed.
Margot Theis Raven, “America’s White Table” explains ” I wish I could tell you tons of info about how the table originated, but the facts are a bit sketchy, unfortunately. I covered most of what I know in the author’s note in my book America’s White Table. To get my facts, I contacted the Air Force Historian’s office when working on the book and was told that the River Rats began the tradition before the Vietnam War was over (set at their practice reunions when the men were still overseas). When the war ended, the MIA/POW table tradition of remembering missing and fallen comrades traveled back State-side with the returning veterans and eventually became a part of dining-in and dining out services of all military branches, really by a gradual “roll-out,” rather than any kind of dictated order. It was evolutionary rather than revolutionary.”
“As to whose idea is was originally –I have no clear-cut idea. I couldn’t find that fact when interviewing various Rats…just kind of happened is what I learned, but certainly the three “founding fathers” of the Rats deserve much of the credit for the organizations earliest practices and traditions.”
Contacting former POW Paul Galanti, he introduced me to former POW Tom Hanton who graciously shared with me “that the three founding fathers of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association were: Col “Scrappy” Johnson, Col Larry Pickett and Col Robin Olds.”
I certainly would be honored to post the historical facts of The POW/MIA (Missing Man) Table Ceremony and you have my permission without reservation. Lawrence H. Tassone, 4January2009 In late 1979, as the Chairman of the Programs Committee of Air Force Sergeants Assoc. (AFSA) Chap 1379, San Jose, CA, I convinced my fellow members to volunteer to host the 1980 AFSA Division 13 (State of California) convention in San Jose. In December 1979, unexpectedly, I accepted the position as Western Regional Director of the AFSA and commenced employment on 2 January 1980. This took me somewhat out of the loop for planning the program for the events, but I offered to assist where needed.
In mid-January 1980 one of the Chap 1380 officer’s asked me to assist with opening ceremonies. They wanted to do something to recognize our Association’s POW/MIA’s at an appropriate time. After spending a little time pondering the situation I recommended we hold a brief solemn ceremony right after the opening invocation and flag posting so as not to quell the later more festive activities planned over a 3-day period. After that was agreed to I sat down one evening and began to put my thoughts on paper. Somewhere I still have I’m sure the original script for that event since I was asked so often for copies in the years subsequent.
I have seen it performed in a wide variety of roles, and even have one on DVD created by the former commandant of the Enlisted Heritage Hall at Gunter AFB, GA. On occasion I receive a phone call from someone (friend, relative or acquaintenace) who has just attended the ceremony done using the original script and will see an acknowledgement at the bottom of a program card indicating my authorship and remember having met me either as the Western Field Director or later as the Director of Education and Foundation Affairs for AFSA or as the Assist to the Executive Director of AFSA over the 23 years I served on staff. As the author of all the scripts used at AFSA conventions from 1981-2003, this ceremony was performed numerous times at AFSA’s convention and hence thousands became aware of its existence.
To clarify, I do this primarily to ensure that the facts are known correctly for historical purposes and I assure you I seek no remuneration or recognition only that you add this footnote to your office files should the question ever arise. If there are questions/comments I may be reached at: MSgt Lawrence H. Tassone, USAF (Ret) 53 Emily’s Pintail Dr Bridgeville, DE 19933