
Honoring Our Veterans
Respecting service. Preserving memory. Continuing the mission.
American Legion Post 171 is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of all veterans.
Through remembrance, ceremony, and ongoing commitment, we recognize those who have served our nation and ensure their legacy is never forgotten.
Honoring Those Who Served
POW / MIA Remembrance

The POW/MIA table serves as a solemn reminder that those who served and never returned are never forgotten.
At American Legion Post 171, the POW/MIA table honors those who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action. Each element reflects courage, sacrifice, and the enduring hope that those who have not returned will one day be accounted for.
Post 171 remains committed to preserving their memory and ensuring that they are never forgotten.
The Meaning of the POW/MIA Remembrance Table
The small table displayed at American Legion Post 171 is known as the POW/MIA Remembrance Table. It serves as a solemn reminder of those who served our nation and did not return home.
Each item on the table represents the emotions and memories reserved for those who remain missing.
• The white tablecloth symbolizes the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.
• The empty chair reminds us of the unknown faces of those missing from our ranks.
• The red rose represents the blood they may have shed in sacrifice for our country and reminds us of the loved ones who keep the faith while seeking answers.
• The yellow ribbon tied to the vase symbolizes the continued determination to account for our missing.
• The slice of lemon on the bread plate reminds us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.
• The pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of families who wait and remember.
• The inverted glass signifies that the missing cannot share in the meal.
• The black napkin represents the sorrow of captivity.
Together, these items remind us of the courage, sacrifice, and enduring hope that all those who served our nation will one day be accounted for.
We honor their service and remain committed to the fullest possible accounting of all Americans who remain missing.
POW/MIA Resources
The websites below provide additional insight and information on POW/MIA-related matters. These resources include government agencies, historical databases, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to accountability, remembrance, advocacy, and support for the families of prisoners of war and those still missing in action.
Source: DAV POW/MIA Reference Guide
Government Resources
• Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)
https://www.dpaa.mil
• Library of Congress – POW/MIA Database
https://www.loc.gov/collections/vietnam-era-pow-mia-database/about-this-collection/
• Russian-American Joint Commission on POW/MIA Affairs (RAC)
https://www.dpaa.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article-View/Article/569595/russian-american-joint-commission-on-powmia-affairs/
Non-Profit Organizations
• National League of POW/MIA Families
https://www.pow-miafamilies.org
• National Alliance of Families for the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen
https://www.nationalalliance.org
• P.O.W. Network
https://www.pownetwork.org
• Rolling Thunder, Inc.
https://www.rollingthunder1.com
• Coalition of Families of Korean & Cold War POW/MIA
https://www.coalitionoffamilies.org