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Florida AFB Removes Controversial 'Missing Man Table'
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News)-- Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Fla., has recently removed a display honoring missing airmen from a base dining facility, according to International Christian Concern.
The "Missing Man Table" was intended to honor service personnel who didn't return from combat. The table displayed an inverted glass, a single red rose, a yellow ribbon, a candle, a plate with lemon and salt and a Bible.
According to the Air Force Chiefs website, the presence of the Bible was to represent "the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God". But according to Florida Today, a controversy about including a Bible in the display at the base's Riverside Dining Facility led to the removal of the entire table.
In a prepared statement, base authorities told Today that the table would return to the dining facility, but it was unclear if the Bible would still be part of the display.
"The 45th Space Wing deeply desires to honor America's Prisoners and War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) personnel. Unfortunately, the Bible's presence or absence on the table at the Riverside Dining Facility ignited controversy and division, distracting from the table's primary purpose of honoring POWs/MIAs.
"Consequently, we temporarily replaced the table with the POW/MIA flag in an effort to show our continued support of these heroes while seeking an acceptable solution to the controversy. After consultation with several relevant organizations, we now intend to re-introduce the POW/MIA table in a manner inclusive of all POWs/MIAs as well as Americans everywhere."
Although the "several relevant organizations" aren't identified, the inference that the presence of the Bible is contrary to inclusivity leaves little doubt as to who is behind this latest controversy.
This nation was founded on Christian beliefs. It was formed for freedom to worship as one believes. Christianity is NOT exclusive as many claim and would have everyone to believe. Christianity has always had open hearts and arms for the multitudes. Atheists, just as Muslims would rid the world of Christians and Christianity and force others to take up their beliefs and their cause.see the table a
It is time for those who are against God and His teachings as well as His people to put aside their hatred and try becoming as inclusive as they claim to be.
Christ never turned anyone away, though He knew their hearts to be hardened against Him. Instead, He accepted all with an open heart along with open arms.
I say the missing man table should be returned just as it was, WITH the Bible. If including books of other religious beliefs were to be placed on the table as well to represent beliefs of various men then by all means, have them included as well. Maybe that would put water on the fires of hatred surrounding the table and allow everyone to see it as it was originally intended. It was intended as a table to HONOR those who have not returned from combat.