in-country Sunday. It's been over 6 months and I've spent the last two
nights training my replacement. He seems like a good fellow. He's
aware and he understands the Excel work that is required for the job.
It's more than I could have hoped for, actually.
When I was little, my Father, my Papa, would frequently work late.
We'd often have dinner without him, or at least start dinner without
him. When we did, we would always pray, pre-prandial-ly, "... and
bring Papa home, safely and soon." It was our prayer and our sincere
hope that we could all be together. Homecoming was a part of our
nightly ritual. It is a part of everyone's ritual. We leave to home to
achieve things, and then we return to where we belong.
In every mess hall, galley and dining facility, on every military
base, camp, or outpost, there is a table. It is always set and it
waits for the return of our Prisoners of War and our Missing in
Action. It is set, it has a flower and a candle, it has silver-ware,
it is ready for the day that our people come home. This idea, this
concept of the home-coming, is an integral part of our military
heritage. It is recognizable, across all branches and creeds. We all
want to come home and we all want to see our brothers and sisters in
arms come home, too.
While I have been out here I have been a part of a team of people
whose goal is to get our Marines, Soldiers and Sailors back home. We
have been successful far more often than we have not, but there have
been men that have not made it home, on our watch. We all know that,
we have all seen these Heroes. And it has sweetened our own joy at our
homecoming, while also leaving the taste of sadness in our mouths. We
will make it home, but the collective, the entire WE will not.
Maybe I am thinking to much about how things end, today. I found out
that a good friend of mine died in a car accident this week. He was a
guy who taught me a lot about leadership and being in the Navy. He was
younger than me, but he had been around more in the Navy and had been
in leadership positions from the start of his career. He was our
Adjutant in Corps School and then I was deployed to Cuba with him. We
were both Squad Leaders in the same Platoon in Field Medical Training
Battalion. He was 26, I think. Something like that. Younger than me
and usually very sure that he was the coolest person in the world. But
his confidence in his own abilities was a real strength to him. Even
when we all knew he was wrong about something, he wouldn't back down
and eventually everyone would acquiesce. That sounds like it wouldn't
be a positive leadership attribute, but through force of personality,
he made it pretty good. It felt like the whole team was learning from
it.
Anyways, going home, getting home, no one left behind… these are
things that we believe in as a unit. We believe in it because we are
all, on occasion, away from home, away from those we love.
We believe that we will succeed in our mission. That we will bring
peace to the region. That we will bring all our men and women home,
safely and soon.
Below is the spoken part of the ceremony of remembrance:
Let us remember the men and women prisoners of war from all branches
of service that are too often forgotten. Let us remember them.
The table cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions
to respond to their country's call to arms -- so that their children
could remain free. Remember.
The lone candle symbolizes the frailty of a prisoner alone, trying to
stand up against his oppressors. Remember.
The black ribbon on the candle reminds us of those who will not be
coming home. Remember
The single rose reminds us of the loved ones and families of our
comrades in arms who keep the faith and await their return. Remember
A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter
fate -- if we do not bring them home. Remember
There is salt on the plate, symbolic of the family's tears as they
wait and remember.
The glasses are inverted. They cannot toast with us tonight -- maybe
tomorrow, if we remember.
The red, white and blue ribbon is tied to the flower vase by a yellow
ribbon that was worn by thousands who awaited their return. Remember
The faded picture on the table is a reminder that they are missed very
much and are remembered by their families. Remember.
As we look upon this empty table, do not remember ghosts from the
past, remember our comrades.
Remember those whom we depended on in battle. They depend on us to
bring them home.
Remember our friends. They are the ones we love -- who love life and
freedom as we do.
They will remember what we do. Please honor and remember them.
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