Related: The Fallen First Responder Ceremony
NOTE: The POW/MIA Ceremony setup and ceremony proper are NOT different for any service or organization, what you read below is it. There is no such thing as “POW/MIA USMC Regulations”* or POW/MIA Army Ceremony”. There is only one POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony and only one way to set up the 6-Service Hat Table** or Single Setting Table. Please do not try to add your own “special touch” to it. The same goes for the table. Do not remove or add items. This article explains the standards developed by the League of Families. Please maintain that standard at all times.
*There is a marine Corps-specific Missing man Table that is explained in MCO 5060.20. It is not associated with the League of Families’ POW/MIA table, but is similar.
**Service covers are Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, in that order. The table is round and does not have a beginning, so you must choose where the hats will lay. It does not matter where you start, what matters is the order once begun. You can include a civilian hat as well, making the count 7 hats. Until the Space Force service caps are available, use the USAF cap.
We are reminded of those who were missing in action every time remains are recovered in the jungles of Asia and even parts of the countryside in certain places in Europe.
We remember our fallen, missing and prisoners at several occasions each year. Every year each military installation across the globe has some sort of ceremony where the colors are presented, a firing party fires three volleys (this is NOT the 21-Gun Salute) and taps is played. When indoors, there are two types of standard ceremonies for the POW/MIA Table. The basic table has one place setting and the 6-service Hat Table has six settings. See the official script below for a complete description.
The Table Setup: The point to what you will read below is, minimal. Salt and pepper shakers are not necessary at all. the Salt is supposed to be a pinch, a tiny amount, on a single plate accompanied by a slice, not a wedge, of lemon. Silverware is optional as are napkins, but a complete five-course layout with an array of spoons and forks is probably going to be too much. A basic place setting will suffice.
Chairs should have all four feet on the floor for the Missing Man (single setting) or Joint Service table setup. Chairs are going to get in the way of the ceremony and this setup with leaning chairs, pictured below, is a tripping hazard and is just not appropriate at all.
Conversely, a single chair for the Missing Man Table (a single place setting at a small table), is quite appropriate.
Table Location: Off to the side somewhere on its own. There is no guidance regarding this, so you can locate the table where there will be the least amount of traffic (a foyer is not the best location) and somewhere that you feel is most dignified for your room arrangement.
Firing Party: A firing party can fire the Three Volley Salute. The minimum number of members for a firing party is four: one in command and three members who fire. The standard number is eight: one in command and seven who fire. The USAF does not allow the firing party to fire volleys for POW/MIA remembrance ceremonies.
Playing Taps: A note on the playing of Taps (recorded or live) during the ceremony. This bugle call has become the norm for many ceremonies and some think it may not be appropriate since the POWs/MIAs may still be alive. Yes, it is a call played at funerals and no, the ceremony is not a funeral, but it is a mournful call that seems very fitting as we mourn our comrades-in-arms who are still missing or prisoners somewhere.
There is no official guidance regarding Taps from the League of Families, the organization that created the ceremony, my advice is to always be respectful; if you play it, you play it, and here is why you might want to play it (I wrote this as a reply to a question that you can read below):
Taps is acceptable. While some in the Protocol world disagree, feeling that the tune is played at a funeral and that the POWs/MIAs are not officially recognized as deceased, Taps is also played at night signaling the end to the day’s activities. This is something that could describe the fate of our POWs and MIAs their day’s activities in the free world is at an end. The choice is yours. To me, playing Taps rounds off the ceremony.
Echo/Silver Taps: Please see this article. It is not authorized for funerals, but the POW/MIA ceremony would be a good place to sound this modified call.
The Battle Cross: This is another option that some may want to include. You can download the Battle Cross Stand diagram that I created years ago when on the Kadena Air Base Honor Guard on Okinawa, Japan.
This GSA bulletin is the most recent information that I could find on the POW/MIA flag
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BULLETIN [Bulletin FMR 2008–B6] POW/MIA Flag Display
AGENCY: General Services Administration
ACTION: Notice
SUMMARY: This bulletin cancels GSA Bulletin FPMR D–248, POW/MIA Flag Display, published in the Federal Register on March 26, 1998, notifying Federal agencies of the implementation guidelines of section 1082, Display of POW/MIA Flag, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Pub. L. 105–85, Nov. 18, 1997), now codified at 36 U.S.C. § 902. This bulletin clarifies that National POW/MIA Recognition Day is designated annually by Presidential Proclamation and provides guidance on the protocol for flying the POW/MIA flag and information on how to obtain POW/MIA flags.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 10, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT For further clarification of content, contact Stanley C. Langfeld, Director, Regulations Management Division (MPR), General Services Administration, Washington, DC 20405,Dated: May 27, 2008.
Kevin Messner,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Government wide Policy. General Services Administration
TO: Heads of Federal Agencies
SUBJECT: POW/MIA Flag Display
1. Purpose: This bulletin cancels GSA Bulletin FPMR D–248, POW/MIA Flag Display, and notifies Federal agencies of revised implementation guidelines of section 1082, Display of POW/MIA Flag, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Pub. L. 105–85, Nov. 18, 1997), now codified at 36 U.S.C. § 902 (the Act).
2. Expiration Date: This bulletin does not expire unless the Act is amended, superseded or cancelled.
3. Applicability: Federal establishments with responsibility for the following locations:
4. What action must I take? If this bulletin applies to your Federal establishment, the Act required the head of your department, agency or other establishment to prescribe such regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of section 1082 no later than May 17, 1998. If you are responsible for the Capitol, then this action is not needed. The implementation regulations must be consistent with the general guidelines established by the Act as outlined in this bulletin. The Federal establishments affected by the Act may prescribe additional implementation regulations, as necessary.
5. Who distributes official POW/MIA flags? GSA distributes the official POW/MIA flag. You can obtain flags through GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service by your usual ordering procedures.
Let’s separate this into the two programs:
The single-setting table does not require any honor guard members, just someone to read the script. The 6-service hat table ceremony does not necessarily require honor guard members, but they can add something very special.
If used with some or all of the optional ideas, the ceremony should always be dignified, but does not need to be dragged out.
A note for setting up the table: Do not place salt and pepper chakers on the table. Also, there is not need to dump a pile of salt on the small plate either, it’s just a pinch.
Script
Download the script here. Download the large table and the small table setup diagrams here.
The lemon slice and pinch of salt are on a small plate- not on each plate. No salt shaker or other condiments. Each place setting should have a dinner plate, folded napkin beside it and silverware on top of the napkin.
(Optional) Two Honor Guard members (Color Commander and POW/MIA flag Bearer) can enter, one carrying the cased POW/MIA flag at Port. Both stop at center, Bearer lowers cased flag to parallel with ground, ferule under right arm pit- right arm at a 45-degree angle. Commander moves to flag and uncases it by sliding cover off and draping it over his left arm (left arm remains at a 45-degree angle holding flag case). At this point Bearer unfurls flag until completed with spade parallel to floor. Bearer raises flag back to Port Arms, posts flag (complete posting sequence) in its own stand (with other colors or on its own next to POW/MIA Table) and Bearer and Commander depart.
(Optional) Five (six) Honor Guard members (then) enter with the five service covers in joint service order (USA, USMC, USN, USAF & USCG [& civilian]) and place them on the plates on the table and (depart or), depart to retrieve table items, remain to overturn glasses and then depart. (If using only a single place setting table, do not use any covers.)
(Optional) As the Hat Bearers enter, light the candle and begin reading:
As you entered the dining area, you may have noticed a table – raised to call your attention to its purpose – it is reserved to honor our missing loved ones.
(Optional) two of the five Hat Bearers depart after placing covers to retrieve the Bible and the rose. Or everything can be placed on the table, with glasses already turned over and all departing (this cuts the time of the ceremony a little).
Set for six (one/whatever number), the empty places represent Americans who were or are missing from each of the five services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard (and military service civilians*), all with us in spirit.
*This means only the civilians who served with the military.
Some here were very young when the Vietnam War began; however, all Americans should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation’s call and served the cause of freedom in a special way. Please be seated while I explain the meaning of this special table, and join me for a moment of silent prayer at the end. The table is round – to show our everlasting concern. The cloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.
(Optional) Honor Guard member enters with vase containing red rose and adorned with a red ribbon and places it on the table.
The single red rose reminds us of the lives of these men….and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, while seeking answers. The yellow ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for them.
(Optional) pause here until Honor Guard member places vase and remains at the table.
A slice of lemon reminds us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty.
(Optional) Honor Guard member enters with Bible and places it on the table.
(Optional) The Bible represents the strength gained through faith in our country, founded as one nation under God, to sustain those lost from our midst.
(Optional) pause here until Honor Guard member places Bible and remains at the table.
The glasses are inverted – to symbolize their inability to share this evening’s toast.
(Optional) Honor Guard members raise glasses as if to toast, turn them over, place them back on the table upside down and depart
Pause until Honor Guard members have departed.
The chairs are empty – they are missing… (silent moment)
Let us now raise our water glasses in a toast to honor America’s POW/MIA’s and to the success of our efforts to account for them.
(Optional) Firing party fires Three Volley Salute.
(Optional) Taps* can be sounded here after the silent toast. Note: Again, the US Air Force (USSF as well) does not allow for Taps to be sounded at USAF events.
Also see the National League of Families web site.
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View Comments
I have one simple question regarding this ceremony, the order of the service caps. Why does the space force appear before the coast guard? The rest of the order makes sense other than that one placement. If possible I would appreciate a directive number that shows an updated order of precedence as the only one I seem to find is US DoD Directive 1005.8 which was published before the time of the space force. Thank so much for all the information, I'm going to try and incorporate this ceremony into my next military ball.
The Coast Guard is last because it is not DoD.
No one has the correct order out yet. The AF screwed it up.
DM
We are planning to honor 23 POWs at a football game. Three are still living and will be in attendance. The 23 represent the Army, Army Air Force, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. We are going to place 4 tables on the field with 23 settings. The tables and chairs will be cover in white linens. The 3 living POWs will be seated at a table and will announce their presence during a Roll Call. A cadet or soldier will escort the POWs to and from their seats.
After the Roll Call, we will display a Soldier's Cross at the other end of the field. This will be followed by a 21-gun salute and the playing of TAPS.
Your thoughts please. Thank you
Sir,
I mean no insult, but the tables do not make sense to me. Also, you could be creating a bit of a traumatic event with 20 empty place settings and even the battle cross (what you are calling the Soldier's Cross). If I may make a recommendation, don't have the tables or the battle cross when you have three living former POWs present.
I liken this to Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Veteran's Day is for thanking living vets. Memorial Day is for remembering our fallen. Even though some American's confuse the observances with a "Thank you for your service" on Memorial Day, we don't mix the two.
If the vets need them, you could have three chairs on the 50 yard line toward the sideline. If the JROTC is able, they could welcome the vets with an honor cordon (swords or rifles) of 6 members. They could provide a color guard as well (as a reminder, the POW/MIA flag is not authorized in a color guard formation and is only carried at the funeral of a former POW). It would be a nice gesture to have the POW flag flying under the American flag at the flagpole near the field.
The 21-gun salute is fired by cannons only (Army, Marine Corps, and Navy). What you are wanting to proved, I'm sure, is the Three Volley Salute that will be fired by 3 to 7 members of a firing party with a commander. That would be inappropriate as you will be honoring three living veterans. The Three Volley Salute is only for funerals and memorials. Instead, you could always have a moment of silence for the fallen, which would be quite appropriate.
I hope this helps you.
DM
Can a POW- MIA missing man table be moved from it’s resting place to perform a redress ceremony, then relocated back to it’s original resting place.
Mr. Swearnigen,
Anything that is practical for your situation should be just fine. If you need to move the table to a certain place for a ceremony and then back for daily display, there's nothing wrong with that.
DM
Great information! I have a question. Are the POW/MIA or 6 man table tables used indoors only or is it appropriate at outdoor ceremonies?
Mr. Derfuss,
By reading the script, you can see that the Missing Man or POW/MIA Hat Table ceremony (any number of services, two and above) is for a formal dinner setting. Indoors is most appropriate. However, if you are in a location with nice weather and the formal dinner is outside (at a restaurant that has a dick by a river, for instance), that would still meet the requirements of the script.
DM
What is the protocol for flying the POW/MIA flag during the playing of Taps and Gun Volley during annual Veterans Remembrance Ceremony. I’ve been told to lower the POW/MIA flag during that portion the ceremony. I haven’t found any info supporting this procedures.
Mr. Miller,
There's no such requirement. That's from someone making something up to create a more "specialer" moment because what we already have isn't enough in their mind.
The only flag that is lowered to half-staff is the American and that is to show mourning. No other flag except state and territory flags have that honor.
The ceremony states a red ribbon on the vase, your diagram calls for a blue ribbon. Also should the napkin be black?
TSgt McCullough,
Thank you so much for identifying my typo! I figured out what happened- I remade the diagrams not too long ago which included the FIrst Responder Table. That ribbon is blue and I copied and pasted changing all kinds of information, except the ribbon color. Fixed!
TSgt McCullough, I'll have to recheck my info, but it should be a red ribbon. The napkin color is not specified, I've always gone with white, but that's up to you.
Thanks for your question!
I am planning the 240th Army Birthday at the NRO and there is much discussion on whether to include the POW/MIA ceremony. We have a joint honor guard prepared to perform the ceremony and having read your I still have a couple of questions.
1. Can we remove the other services and just do the Army portion?
2. The Army Band is actually supporting this event, should I have them play taps?
Thank you for your wisdom,
Hello Laketha,
Thank you for contacting me with two great questions. Here are my answers:
1. It is perfectly acceptable to have just one service represented. All services do this on a regular basis having just one service cap on the table.
2. Taps is also perfectly acceptable. While some in the Protocol world disagree feeling that the tune is played at a funeral and that the POWs/MIAs are not officially recognized as deceased. However, Taps is also played at night signaling the end to the day's activities, something that could describe the fate of our POWs and MIAs. The choice is yours. To me, playing Taps rounds off the ceremony perfectly.
Thank you. I do have another question. Is TAPS played before or after the script is read.
Appreciate your knowledge!
Monica Sickman
After. Actually, the military services are tending not to play it at all, but there is no solid ruling. Playing Taps is a great way to remember our brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
Always a pleasure, ma'am!
I am co-chair for the All Service Academy in our area this year. We always have a POW/MIA table at our event. My question is regrading the playing of the TAPS, must it be played by a bugle or can it be played by a trumpet? I don't want to be disrespectful but we are having a hard time finding a bugler. I understand we have the option to not play the TAPS at all. Which is the direction we will go if need be. Thank you for your input.
Monica
Hello Ma'am,
A bugle or trumpet, even a cornet, is just fine.
Thank you very much for the question and for honoring our POWs and MIAs.
If there is any other help you need, please let me know.
Drillmaster,
I just arrived here in Bangkok, Thailand two weeks ago. My commander put me in-charge in organizing a National POW/MIA recognition day ceremony this coming 19 September 2014. This is my first time and no experience in running this ceremony. You mentioned on your message that you already done the POW/MIA ceremony several times. I’m just wondering if you’re able to video document the entire POW/MIA recognition day ceremony (outdoor setting) from previous ceremonies. If yes, is it possible to get a copy? Thank you in advance.
FLC,
I'm going to shoot you an email so we can go into details.