Honoring America’s military on Veterans Day is always important for the students and their families at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLS). A special school-wide Mass was held with patriotic music, as the 8th graders set a “Remembrance Table” to remember those veterans who are no longer present and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made for freedom.

Before the Mass began, a small round table was placed to show the never-ending concern for one serviceman alone. It was covered with a white tablecloth to represent the purity of responding to the call to duty. A lemon wedge was placed on a plate to show a captive soldier’s bitter fate. Then, salt was sprinkled on the plate to represent the tears of a soldier’s family waiting for their loved one to return.

An empty chair was also set at the table for the missing soldiers, and a glass was turned over for the meal that wouldn’t be eaten by them. In addition, a black napkin was also placed to represent the emptiness left in the hearts of family members whose loved ones wouldn’t return. A special white candle was lit as an everlasting hope for a joyous reunion.

Three beautiful roses were also arranged in a vase on the table: a white rose for those soldiers who returned alive, a yellow rose for those who are missing, and a red rose for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The tablescape would not be complete without a Bible placed to represent one nation under God and the American flag as a reminder that these soldiers have made sacrifices to ensure American freedom.

As a special tribute to veterans of the families at OLS School, individual frames were placed at the foot of the altar containing each person’s name and their service to America.