On Friday, September 15, 2023, the Vietnam Veterans of America hosted a somber but powerful event in honor of U.S. service members who were Prisoners of War or are Missing in Action (POW/ MIA). The memorial began at 10:00am in Cate Square Park in Hammond on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which occurs on the third Friday in September of every year.
The ceremony began with a silent ROTC march, an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a beautiful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. The keynote address was delivered by State Representative, Bill Wheat; and Parish Councilman, Louis “Nick” Joseph, who cohosted the event, conveyed a touching narrative throughout the ceremony. During one part of the memorial, a bell was rung for each name of Louisiana service members who didn’t return home, and POW/MIA flags were placed by loved ones on a memorial arrangement in honor of them all. The tribute was so solemn that you could almost hear the attendees’ tears striking the ground between the tolls of the bell.
A lone soldier stood during the ceremony, with his wrists bound in chains, representative of the bondage of our U.S. POWs. At the forefront of the demonstration were a vertically propped military rifle with a soldier’s helmet atop, a wreath crafted of black tulle, and another wreath made of rolled barbed wire, objectifying imprisonment. Beside these emblems was a single dining table – The Missing Man Table, abundant with symbolism: the table is round, to show our unending concern; the tablecloth is white, illustrating the purity of their motives; the wine glass is inverted, symbolizing their inability to join in this day’s toast; a lit candle is an emblem of our undying hope for their return; a single red rose reminds us of their families and loved ones; a slice of lemon represents their bitter fate; a pinch of salt exemplifies the tears of their families; and the chair is empty. They are missing.
“We will never forget those service members who have yet to return from foreign conflicts, and we will never give up hope that they will return to us,” said Louis Joseph. “God delivered beautiful weather for this ceremony, and this community delivered the love and compassion we need to honor the brave men and women in our hearts today. We owe them everything.”
(Times Photo)