{"id":7942,"date":"2025-11-11T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=7942"},"modified":"2025-11-10T12:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T17:59:45","slug":"blog-204-veterans-day-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/blog-204-veterans-day-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog #204 – Veterans Day 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Treaty of Versailles<\/em>
June 28, 1919<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always tried to honor Veterans Day, even as a kid. My dad fought in WWII, and he took time for remembrance and taught me the importance and respect for veterans. I felt I needed to, too. After I served in the Navy, it was equally important \u2026 but as I\u2019ve grown older, it means more to me each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several years ago, I started attending an annual get together of veterans at a local cemetery. Both Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era veterans (like me) gather for a quiet ceremony to honor several high school classmates who were killed in the Vietnam War. It\u2019s a somber experience, but an important tradition to continue to remember our fallen comrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year will be especially special – I’ve begun writing a book about the 48 men from Alachua County, Florida (my home) who died while in service during the Vietnam War<\/strong>. I plan to publish it (The ‘Nam “AC-48”) by Memorial Day 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been extremely fortunate to have not only a Navy background (me) but also an Army background. My dad, A.Z. Adkins, Jr.<\/strong>, served with the 80th Infantry Division<\/strong> in Europe during WWII. My father-in-law, Dr. Rufus K. Broadaway<\/strong>, served with the 82nd Airborne Division<\/strong> in Europe during WWII. I\u2019ve written several blogs about them both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also know many of you have fathers and grandfathers (and now, sons and daughters) who serve. All are true veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMissing Man\u201d Table<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people see the \u201cMissing Man\u201d display, but may not realize that every element on the table has significant meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Veterans
\u201cMissing Man\u201d Table displayed at the annual 80th Division Veterans Association meeting.<\/em>
Photo credit: Andy Adkins<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Veterans Day<\/strong>\u2014not<\/em> to be confused with Memorial Day<\/strong>\u2014is a federal holiday for honoring military veterans of the US Armed Forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many restaurants provide discounts to veterans on this day. Many of these restaurants also display what has become known as the \u201cMissing Man\u201d Table. You may have noticed this in the past; you may notice it this year. For this<\/em> proud United States Navy Veteran<\/em><\/strong>, this tradition symbolizes what I feel\u2026 inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Missing Man Table<\/em><\/strong> is also known as the Fallen Comrade Table<\/em>. It is a ceremony and a memorial in honor of the fallen, missing, or imprisoned military service members. This table serves as a focal point of remembrance, originally growing out of the US concern for Vietnam War POW\/MIAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tradition varies among venues\u2014sometimes there\u2019s a single chair, representing all who are missing. Sometimes the table is set for six: the empty chairs represent Americans who were or are missing from each of the services\u2014Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard\u2014and civilians, all with us in spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Missing Man Table comprises many symbols:<\/p>\n\n\n\n