By
William E. Spear
With settings for six, it awaits its guests. But who are the guests and will they come? Perhaps, more importantly, can they come?
~~
Full Transcript –
THE TABLE
ORIGINAL DATE: 15 September 2023
(The Marines’ GOD OF OUR FATHERS comes up and goes under)
Hello and welcome to The 3:57. My name is William Spear.
This episode is THE TABLE. It is adapted from The Missing Man Table Ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The commemoration started with congressional and presidential resolutions in 1979 acknowledging the efforts of families of more than 2,500 POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War.
Subsequent presidents have continued the honor on the third Friday in September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Further, former prisoners of war and those still missing in action from all U. S. conflicts are now recognized.
The Defense Department continues efforts to account for POWs and MIAs from World War Two, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts.
They seek to “Provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.”
And now . . . THE TABLE.
(The Marines’ GOD OF OUR FATHERS comes up and goes under)
I – Setting for six
There is a table
Which is set
Wherever people congregate.
From upscale restaurants
To downtown soup kitchens.
From dining rooms
To dining cars
To diners.
Invitations have been sent to six guests
And their comrades of many thousands more.
II – Needing to believe
There is a table
Which is set
With circular proportions.
It signifies our intent
And unending desire,
To know
To understand
And believe,
That our missing guests
Will someday be present.
III – Protect and engage
There is a table
Which is set
Draped with a tablecloth of white.
It symbolizes the purity
And virtue of our guests.
To act
Protect
And engage,
For the service of the country
In a unique and special way.
IV – Bound by faith
There is a table
Which is set
With a vase and single red rose.
The rose, surrounded by barbed thorns,
Is symbolic of each guest.
Loved ones
And friends
Are keeping the faith.
The vase is bound with a red ribbon
Just as we are bound to our guests.
V – Bitter fates and tears
There is a table
Which is set
And laden with lemon and salt.
A slice of lemon drips upon
The bread plate of lives.
Bitter
Are the fates
Kept from the table.
And grains of salt are tears wept by
Absent guests, their families, and friends.
VI – No celebration
There is a table
Which is set
With champagne glasses placed upside down.
It holds no toast
And contains no celebration.
It is hollow,
Empty,
A void.
It will never sparkle
Without the brilliance of our guests.
VII – Empty chairs
(with pace)
There is a table
Which is set
For guests who can not come.
(continue pace)
Upon the table rests a Bible offering strength,
Faith, and a reminder of our country’s roots.
Chairs beckon, but go unheeded, by our absent guests,
They are comrades, loved ones, and friends
Who are with us in spirit if not in actuality.
Each served the nation in a special and now unending way.
All shall be remembered while we ask questions and await answers.
VIII – Pledge to missing guests
(slow build with pace)
We raise our empty glasses
In pledge to America’s
Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.
We shall forever strive
To learn their fates
Because we will never forget them.
Whether Army,
Marine Corps,
Or, Navy.
The Air Force,
Or, the Coast Guard.
They were once Civilians and will always be family and friends.
IX – Never forget
(with emphasis) We must never forget . . .
(as previous) . . . There is a table
Which is set
Wherever people congregate.
(The Marines’ GOD OF OUR FATHERS comes up and goes under)
You have just listened to THE TABLE.
All music is from the United States Marine Band.
The 3:57 is written and produced by William Spear.
Thank you for listening, and . . .
. . . To the POWs and MIAs, “You are not forgotten.”
(The Marines’ BUGLE CALL FOR TAPS comes up and goes under)
Clay Track Press 