Patrons of the Clearwater American Legion have been greeted with a sobering, mindful sight this week, a patriotic display honoring the nation’s most recent fallen heroes, the 13 men and women killed in Afghanistan last week.

The display consists of a long table covered in a patriotic tablecloth with 13 place settings; all of the chairs pushed in. At each setting there is a napkin and beverage, and a sign at the head of the table reads, “Reserved for our 13 fallen heroes. We salute you.”

At the far end of the table an American flag sits, folded into a triangle. Military burial flags such as this are a tribute to the nation’s dead and are traditionally gifted to the families of deceased veterans. The folded flag is a symbol of the honor earned, and sacrifice made, in battle while serving America.

The display came about as a way for the Legion members and staff to show respect for and honor the memory of the 13 fallen veterans. It’s similar to the traditional ‘Table Set for One’ that is found in American Legions across the country as a physical symbol of the American POWs/MIAs still unaccounted for from all wars and conflicts. The Table Set for One consists of a small table with a single place setting, a lone candlestick, and a single bud vase containing one red rose, all set on a simple white tablecloth.

Clearwater Legion’s Table Set for One is located next to the entrance.

The Legion plans on leaving the new display up for the near future, a physical reminder of the ultimate price paid by 13 American military members.