'Empty Table' Displays Honor Absent Veterans' Sacrifice

Published 11.12.2012

News

A silent, yet powerful tributeSeveral small tables, each set for one person and honoring all branches of the service, have been placed at various Penn College locations in honor of fallen military personnel during this Veterans Day week. The empty place settings symbolize that, although they are no longer with us in body, they are with us in spirit. Representatives of the Financial Aid Office, which arranged the tables in conjunction with Dining Services and other campus partners, said, "We should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation's call and served the cause of freedom in a special way. We are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that, while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured the agonies of pain, deprivation and death." Tables have been installed in Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, CC Commons, the Keystone Dining Room, Dauphin Hall, the Madigan Library, and the Student and Administrative Services Center. The college community is encouraged to visit the displays and join in appreciation for all who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom. An explanation of each item's symbolism and "A Toast to Our Fallen Comrades" follow: Empty Table