To honor our POW/MIA veterans this Memorial Day, today’s tablescape is a very special one – The Missing Man Table. The Missing Man Table will be displayed at our Patriot’s Palooza Memorial Day party, along with the attached printable, so our guests can honor and toast to our lost service members, give a moment of silence or prayer, and teach their children about the sacrifices of our heroes.
This table is reserved to honor our missing comrades in arms.
The table is round – to show our everlasting concern for our missing men.
The tablecloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing and their loved ones and friends of these Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers.
The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers.
The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The glass is inverted – to symbolize their inability to share this evening’s toast.
The chair is empty – they are missing.
Let us now raise our glasses in a toast to honor America’s POW/MIAs and to the success of our efforts to account for them.
For the printable of the table setting and ceremony, click on the printable.
If you are reading this, then supporting our Veterans is obviously very important to you! Before you go, be sure to check out the Veteran-owned businesses that I support and recommend!
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Love, hugs, and honoring our missing heroes.
I absolutely love this post! I might make a little display like this for my outside table this weekend. God bless.
Hi Leslie – Thank you for your kind words and Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
Oh, wow! Just…..wow!!! Wouldn’t it really be something special if each household on the cul-de-sac or block would set up a table like this on their porch along with the American flag for the Memorial Day weekend? What a show of support that would be!!! I’m going to suggest it to our neighbors for next year. They’re not exactly the kind to be able to respond to a request like this so suddenly. If I give them a year’s notice and keep dropping reminders, maybe everyone will be on board by this time next year!
Pinning it!
Hi Alycia – What a wonderful idea to inspire your neighbors to do. Happy Memorial Day to you and your family! Hugs, Holly
Beautiful and so touching. Everyone should do this every day in honor of these brave soldiers that have never made it home.
Hi K&M – Thank you for your kind words. They gave their lives for our freedom. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
That is just so awesome and amazing……Beautiful and inspiring. We truly owe so much to our soldiers who sacrifice so much. I have NEVER taken the U.S. for granted…but living in another country is so eye opening because you realize even more (despite it’s flaws) what a great country the U.S. is. Thanks for sharing. found at hit me with your best shot linky. Have a great night Holly! pinning this to my memorial day board.
Hi Rachel – Thank you for stopping by and sharing your sweet thoughts. Hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Holly
I really love this tablescape and the meaning behind everything. Thanks for sharing this.
Hi Cynthia – Thank you for hosting your party and giving me an opportunity to share. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
What a wonderful idea! I am definitely doing this this Memorial Day! Too often we forget what this day is really all about. What a thoughtful way to remind everyone.
Hi Jayne – Thank you for stopping by and sharing. It’s a very quiet way to remember those lost. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
What a beautiful tribute!!!
Blessings,
Cindy
Hi Cindy – Thank you for your sweet words. Hugs, Holly
Stopping by from Wonderful Wed Blog Hop and this is truly beautiful. I would love to have a link on my Memorial Day post to this on your site so my readers can enjoy your poetic and meaningful tribute. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Hi Carrie – Thank you for stopping by and would love for you to link back to this post. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
Such a beautiful tribute!
TJOM – Thank you so much. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
This is wonderful. I think you have started a trend that all our blogging friends could certainly do. What an incredible tribute. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Debbie – Thank you for your kind words. We should all remember the fallen, and not just on Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
That was beautiful and very touching. The picture looking through the empty chair says it all.
Hi Liz – Thank you for your kind words. Hugs, Holly
Beautiful table! There was a missing man table set up at the submarine ball I attended last month, but I wasn’t familiar with the concept before then.
Hi Natasha – It was fairly new to me as well. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, Holly
What a wonderful tribute! I love this idea!
Hi Erika – Thank you for visiting. Hugs, Holly
What a precious thing to do!! Your awesome!!!
Have a safe weekend!!
Hi Karren – Thank you for your kind words. Happy Memorial Day! Hugs, Holly
What a wonderful tribute…perfect.
Thanks so much Bev. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
Love it!! Beautiful!! What a great tribute!!
I would love for you to share this at my T.G.I.F. Linky Party 🙂 Have a great Memorial weekend!!
Hi Wendy – Thank you for your kind words and for the invitation. Hugs, Holly
As I went from photo to photo and read what each piece means it touched my heart and gave me great joy as so often lately there is not so much love being given to veterans. It’s perfect and thank you.
Hi Sue – The military has some slight alterations (sometimes not just one missing, but one for each service) but overall it’s pretty much the same for each branch of the military. It was an honor to include it this year. Happy Memorial Day. Hugs, Holly
My heart aches for the families of “The missing man” or maybe missing woman.
Hi Wanda – Thank you so much for visiting. Hugs, Holly
Beautiful! Thank you for remembering and honoring our missing, and our fallen on this solemn holiday.
Hi Megan – Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by. Hugs, Holly
Hello Holly, this tablescape is wonderful! I am delighted to share that I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
Hi Kathy – Oh my goodness, what an honor, thank you so much! Hugs, Holly
Congrats! You were featured on Friday’s Five Features over on DIY Vintage Chic. Stop by and grab yourself a button! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2014/05/fridays-five-features-no-42.html
Hi Becca – Thank you so much for the feature, this was a very special table. Hugs, Holly
Thank you for sharing this special table. It is appropriate that we stop and realize the reason for celebrating Memorial Day. Happy to see that it is featured on several parties.
Well done!
Hi Sarah – Thank you for your kind words. It’s so easy to go about our lives on Memorial Day weekend and go to BBQ’s and forget that freedom isn’t free. Hugs, Holly
WOW! By the end I was crying! Thank you for remembering those who have died. My husband is a Vietnam Vet and very proud of it. We need to remember those that come home too! They all fought a good fight to give us freedom of press, speech and peace. Each one is a hero! I love this and also will promote this next year.
Blessings My Friend,
Hi Sweet Lady Elaine – Please give your husband an extra big hug from our family for his service. Living in the DC area, I love being able to volunteer once in awhile at the WWII Memorial, and it’s so touching to see the Vietnam Vets come out in full force to support the WWII Vets. All of our Vets are heroes, but our Vietnam Vets have always had a special place in my heart. Hugs, Holly
Great table…great idea! Very touching.
Hi Bev – Thank you for your kind words. Hugs, Holly
I have chill bumps reading this! This is a really great way to keep the meaning of “Memorial” Day in the weekend. Thank you for sharing this with us — I’ll be sharing it with others!
Hi Wendy – Thank you for your kind words and for sharing. It’s important not to lose sight of Memorial Day! Hugs, Holly
Beautiful way to show remembrance….thanks for sharing this at Tips & Tricks.
Hi Krysta – Thank you so much for your kind words. Newbie to your party and love it! Hugs, Holly
Love-love-love this idea! Memorial Day is such a special day…somehow I just don’t ever feel like we place the emphasis on it that it deserves. Thank you so much for sharing. I am definitely going to take on this tradition.
Thank you so much for supporting our troops!!
Stopping by from Sits Girls.
xoxo
Jessica
Hi Jessica – Thank you for stopping by to share your kind thoughts. Hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Holly