Remembrance
The TABLE … set for one … is small- symbolizing the loneliness wee feel without them.
The TABLECLOTH is white … symbolizing the purity of their intentions and willingness to respond to their country's call to arms.
The single ROSE in the vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms, who kept the faith awaiting their return, and were forever left behind.
The RED RIBBON tied so prominently on the vase, is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn by many who bear witness to their unyielding determination to account for every one of our missing.
A SLICE OF LEMON is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate.
There is SALT upon the bread plate too, symbolic of the river of tears shed by families and loved ones.
The GLASS is inverted …. they cannot toast with us tonight.
The CHAIR is empty … they are not here. Our lives are incomplete because they are not here to sit with us tonight. They were here for us … we are still here for them.
In honoring them … each of them … all of them … we stand silently and face their table … the table where they should be sitting with us tonight. We stand silently in their absence. Please raise your glass in a toast. To our fallen comrades.
2003 – Col Howard R. Trenkle, Jr. – U.S. Army, Past Chair of IAFC, 25 yr member
1995 – Brig. Gen. Warren Bradley – Honorary Colonel, The Windsor Regiment
1992 – Col Cecil K. (Zeke) Vogt – U.S. Air Force
1991 – Col Leonard N. Baldock, CD – Co-Founder and Charter Member IAFC
2001 – LCol Edie Plante, SSSStJ, CD – CF, RAF, Past Chair of IAFC
1994 – Col Walker L. Cisler – U.S. Army
1993 – Col / Rt Honourable Paul Martin Sr., PC, CC,QC – Statesman of Canada
2005 – LTC Thomas J. Wallace, MP, USAR – Member of IAFC
2005 – Maj Zygmund Kornas – Polish WWII 2nd Corps, Member of IAFC
2007 – MG Lucius Theus - U.S. Air Force
2007 – Col Roger Harter - Past Chair of IAFC
2008 – CW4 Dewey Beavers, USA - Member of IAFC
2008 – Wing Commander Robert Norwood, CD, KTJ – Founder of IAFN
2011 – Maj. Bohdan Antoni Grodzki - WW II Polish 2nd Corps
2013 – Capt Ellis Landale, C, - Past Chair of IAFC
2013 – Honourable Eugene F. Whelan P.C., O.C., LL.D, P.Ag - HCol 21st (Windsor) Service Bn
2016 – Col Marion (Mat) Matuszewski, USA - Past IAFC Member
One of the key missions of the International Armed Forces Council is Remembrance of our veterans who sacrificed themselves in our names.
Many aspects of this site, and the solemn rites performed at each Armed Forces Night are dedicated to preserving their memory and the common values and traditions they shared with us.
This page is intended to help visitors understand the significance and meanings of some of those traditions. The table you see to the upper right, is present at each event and is explained in the text below, recited at each event. The links above the picture will take you to other pages dedicated to remembering our veterans.
