"He which hath no stomach to this fight let him depart. But we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.” Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare)
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May no soldier go unloved,
May no soldier walk alone,
May no soldier be forgotten,
until they all come home |
16th Infantry Regiment Tribute to the MIA Soldier
Ladies and Gentlemen, as you entered the ball room this evening, you might have noticed a lone table and chair in the back of the room.
Though it has one place setting, it represents all our fallen comrades and those whose fate is unknown.
The table is round - embodying our eternal devotion to their memory.
Its table cloth is black – symbolizing the ultimate nature of their selfless sacrifice.
The lemon stands for the bitterness of their fate.
The salt is symbolic of the tears their families and we have shed at their loss and their unknown fate.
The red rose – the intense love we feel for our fallen brothers.
The white rose – the hope that our missing brothers will return to us one day soon.
The glass is turned over – for they will not drink with us tonight.
The chair – the chair is empty and tipped toward the table – they are not here, but we pray that those missing will one day return and untip the chair, turn over the glass, and sit down and join us.