Ceremony and tradition
Fellow Marines and friends,
Today marks the 241st anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. As such, Marines the world over gather to celebrate at luncheons, formal balls and when necessary, helicopter delivered beer dropped on the DMZ, Mosul, Kanduhar and any other place where Marines are needed. Today at Pebble Beach, such a gathering took place with Marines from WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and active duty Marines who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are now at the Naval Post Graduate School.
At these gatherings, we have two sacred traditions. Honoring those who cannot be with us and cutting the ceremonial birthday cake, performed by the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance.. Attached you will find two pictures. One is the missing man table. The other is the cake cutting with the sword by Capt.Nicholas Payne, currently stationed at the Naval Post Graduate School, and Gary Laughlin, a Marine pilot who flew fighter jets in WW II and Korea. For you golfers, Gary is mentioned several times in the excellent James Dodson biography of Ben Hogan, “An American Life”. Gary and Hogan were friends and business partners, he being a Texan. Now, at 95, he is still ramrod straight, clear of voice and spirit, and always has the fastest car in the Cypress Point parking lot! My hero!
Below, are the words we speak to toast our missing brothers. As we honor all veterans tomorrow, please enjoy this note. God bless America
Al Jamieson
Sgt. USMC
The Table and Place Setting:
- A small table,
- White tablecloth,
- Single place setting, preferably all white,
- Wine glass, inverted,
- Salt shaker,
- Slice of lemon on bread plate with a pile of spilled salt,
- Small bud vase with a single stem red rose,
- RED ribbon tied around the vase,
- Candle – lit, and
- Empty chair.
The Place Setting
The following may be used when appropriate to present the Toast to Fallen Comrades and to explain the significance of the dedicated place setting when it is used:
“You may have noticed the small table set for one that is off on its own – it is reserved to honour our fallen comrades in arms. This symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit. We should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation’s call [to serve] and served the cause of freedom in a special way. We are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured the agonies of pain, deprivation and death.
I would like to explain the meaning of the items on this special table.
- The table is round – to show our everlasting concern for our fallen comrades.
- The tablecloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
- The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of our fallen comrades, and the loved ones and friends of these comrades who keep the faith.
- The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to remember our fallen comrades.
- A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those who will never return.
- A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by the families of those who have sacrificed all.
- The Holy Book represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country.
- The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time.
- The chair is empty because they are no longer with us.
Let us remember – and never forget their sacrifice.
May they and their families ever be watched over and protected.”
Source: United States Marine Corps