Snyder's Side: Article 9
The Empty Table (for my friends from the Wyandotte High School Class of 1980)
At our 30-year reunion (who would have thought I'd have made it that long!) I thought it would be nice to give special recognition to the members of our class who are no longer with us -- unfortunately, there are far too many of them -- with a modification to the "P.O.W. - M.I.A." table we always set at our Air National Guard's "Dining Out" events. Ms. MaryJo Pursley-Gerrity wanted me to post the little speech I made regarding the table, and I am honored to do so here.
To learn more about the ceremony we use at our military events, please click here to read about it. If you can get through it without a lump in your throat, you probably don't understand.
I don't want to take any credit for this, and if you should so choose to
use this at your next function (reunion, formal dinner or whatever), please
feel free to use this and/or modify it to suit your needs.
A Table and A Toast
As you came in this evening, you might have noticed a small table near the front of the room. This table is our way of remembering classmates that cannot be with us.
The single red rose reminds us of our school's main color, their friends and their loved ones.
The candle is lit -- Symbolizing the upward reach of their spirit.
The table is set, but the glass is inverted -- they cannot toast with us tonight.
The chair is empty. They are not here.
Let us now raise our glasses in a toast to honor those of our class who cannot be with us.
Take Care,
KS