There's an empty chair at the table tonight, all around America. Jimmy didn't make it home from the jungle near Phu Bai. Sharon was shot down over Bahrain. Mike's submarine was torpedoed by the Japanese at Midway. Dennis didn't come out of the cave in Afghanistan. And Bill is still somewhere in North Korea.

Their families all save an empty chair at the table to celebrate their loved ones' memory.

As we gather today we are not here to mourn their loss, but remember the people they were... Sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, who didn't come home from the war.

Their lives enriched not only our country, but our families. They fought and died for our freedom, yes, and we could not be here today without them. But they also gave us their friendship, their love, their faithful care and concern. They were people who touched our everyday lives and our hearts forever.

They are looking down on us now as we stand here together honoring them. Their words to us today are,

"Thank You America. Thank you for being here and remembering us today. Thank you for being my friend in the jungle, the desert, the mountains, the Frozen Chosen, the wide open seas of the Pacific. Thank you for the support, the love, the care and all the memories. We served for you and so many of you served for us. Thank you for giving us so many beautiful memorials like this one.

And thank you for saving a chair for us at the table tonight."