By The Port Huron Elks Lodge 343
Throughout this past month of November, the Port Huron Elks Lodge 343 Veterans committee started another Lodge 343 tradition by honoring our Veteran members with setting a separate POW/MIA table of honor “A Place Setting for One, a Table for ALL” in recognition of our prisoners of war and missing comrades in our Lodge Social Quarters. The idea of a table of honor was put in place at the end of the Vietnam War. Each Item has a separate meaning while representing a table for one. The small table is set for one, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner. The table is round, showing our everlasting concern for our POW/MIA’s. The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of our men and women’s motives when answer the call to duty. The single red rose, reminding us of the lives of these men and women, their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, while seeking answers. The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for them. A slice of lemon, reminds us of the bitter fate of those missing, captured and held as prisoners in foreign lands. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty. The Holy Bible, represents the strength gained through faith in our country, founded as one nation under God, to sustain those lost from our midst. The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home. The glass is inverted to symbolize their inability to share this evening’s toast. The chair is empty, they are missing and please remember their service and sacrifice. Let us honor America’s POW/MIA’s and encourage our government to undertake successful efforts to account for them.
On another note, the Port Huron Elks Lodge 343, Clawson/Troy Elks Lodge 2169, and Elks National Veterans Service Commission (ENVSC) monthly $25.00, (2) free gas gift cards “give-a-way” program drawing took place on Monday, November 20th, as local retired US Army Veteran, Hans Locher drew the two lucky local Veterans. This month’s winning tickets belong to Robert Buffington, USMC and Richard Rouillard, USMC. The Yale Veterans Clinic of McLaren/Port Huron Yale Community Health Center is located at 7470 Brockway Road, Yale, MI. 48097.
To our Veterans of Port Huron Elks Lodge 343, along with our newly initiated Veteran members, to please consider sending your Military Service story to Scott R. Harris PER, DVP, ENVSC VAVS Rep at scottharris55@comcast.net for a future Veterans Corner publication.
