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American River Messenger

VFW Post 6158 Commemorates National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Sep 12, 2024 09:21AM ● By Sheila LaPolla, photos by Sheila LaPolla

Pictured is the Remembrance Table at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6158, Fair Oaks.


FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - Amid all of today’s drama and controversies, we mustn’t forget those who valiantly served our nation and were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are still missing in action (MIA), as well as their families.

The United States’ POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed annually across the nation on the third Friday of September.

This year, National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be observed on Friday, Sept. 20.

This is a day to remember the sacrifice and service by our courageous POW and MIA service members to help ensure the freedom that we cherish today. 

Every American president since President Carter has issued proclamations for this solemn observance.

Ceremonies and events are held across the country honoring and remembering the sacrifices and service of those Americans who were prisoners of war and those who served and never returned home, and their families.

Not far from the third Friday in September this year, on Sunday, Sept. 22, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6158 welcomes the public to join in commemorating National POW/MIA Recognition Day at 8990 Kruitof Way (off Hazel Avenue) in Fair Oaks, between 1 and 6 p.m.

There will be presentations, live music and food banks.

Join us in honoring and recognizing those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and American way of life.

On POW/MIA Recognition Day, awareness of the plight of our POW and MIA service members is heightened but we should never forget them.

At Military.com, it reads, “YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN – that’s the central phrase behind the POW/MIA Remembrance movement…Many of our service members suffered as prisoners of war during several decades of varying conflicts. While some of them made it home, tens of thousands never did.”

A POW/MIA Remembrance or Missing Man table assures our service members are not forgotten, not just on POW/MIA Recognition Day, but every day.

According to Wikipedia:

The missing man table can be a permanent display in or close to military dining facilities.

The POW/MIA Remembrance or Missing Man table consists of the following elements:

A small table set for one, symbolizing the isolation of the absent service member.

A white tablecloth symbolizes the pure intentions of the service members who responded to the country’s call to arms.

A single rose in the vase symbolizes the blood that service members have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of America. This rose also represents the family and friends who keep the faith while awaiting the return of the missing service members.

The red ribbon represents a love of country that inspired service members to serve the country.
A slice of lemon on the bread plate represents the bitter fate of the missing.

Salt sprinkled on the bread plate symbolizes the tears shed by waiting families.

An inverted glass represents the fact that the missing and fallen cannot partake.

The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors to the arms of a grateful nation.

The chair is empty – they are not here.

The annual POW/MIA Recognition Day event honors prisoners of war and our missing and their families and highlights the government’s commitment to account for them.

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

Let us honor our prisoners of war, those still missing in action, and all our veterans, past and present, for their dedication and love of country.