Chick-fil-A Sets Up ‘Missing Man Table’ Inside Restaurants To Honor Fallen Servicemen

This last Memorial Day brought to light the many companies that are finding ways to honor the brave men and women who died serving our country.

One such company, Chick-fil-A, stood out from the rest by beginning a heartwarming tradition in their restaurants that will move you to tears.

If you happened to walk into one of their restaurants on Memorial Day, you may recall seeing a table set up for one. Most commonly known as the Missing Man Table, the display reminds us just how much our fallen have sacrificed.

A framed tribute lists the meaning of each item placed on the table.

The white tablecloth symbolizes the purity of our lost service members motives when they answered the call of duty.

The single red rose in a vase reminds us of each of the lives of the fallen and their friends and family members who faithfully wait for answers.

There is a yellow ribbon tied around the vase to represent the constant effort to account for the missing.

A pinch of salt stands for the tears shed by the fallen and their families.

The Bible reminds us that faith strengthens our very core while we sustain those who gave their lives.

The wine glass is upside down, as a symbol of their absence and inability to share in the evening’s toast.

Last, the empty chair speaks for itself – “they are missing,” the list reads.

Jacksonville-area store manager and retired Navy Commander Marinus Storm has been displaying a “Missing Man Table” at his store since 2004.

“Memorial Day is a somber holiday — it’s really about the fallen,” he said. “The current or recent service members who come into our restaurant are really affected by this.”

It’s important to never forget what each and every life lost means for us today.

“There’s no doubt this is an opportunity to teach people, specifically those who don’t have any connection to the military, about the sacrifices our service members make and that those losses last.” Storm added.