Ball Honors Service in Armed Forces

Sidney residents closed out Armed Forces Day Saturday with a first-ever local Armed Forces Ball and the results were far better than any of its organizers could imagine.

"We thought we would have a couple of tables with people around them," Ylani Cole said during her opening welcome. "We had no idea we would have a turnout like this."

More than 200 people, from former servicemen and women to their families, to interested supporters turned out at the Sidney Elks Lodge for food, fund raising and fun. Veterans and related interests will benefit from the more than $11,000 raised over the evening through live and silent auctions and a number of donations.

Over the course of the evening a number of service traditions were observed, from the presentation of the Missing Man Table to a batch of "grog," a service tradition dating way back in the annals of young people serving the nation in uniform.

Neil Johnson, with the Deuel County VFW, explained the significance of the Missing Man Table, which is representative to remember more than 88,000 Americans still unaccounted for. He explained the symbolism of the table's various elements:

Set for one, it represents the frailty of one isolated prisoner;

The white tablecloth is symbolic of one's pure intentions when responding to their country's call to arms;

A single red rose in the vase signifies blood shed in sacrifice;

A slice of lemon on the plate, for the bitter fate of the missing;

Salt sprinkled on the plate, for the fallen tears of waiting families;

The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost;

A lit candle, reminiscent of the light of hope that lives in families' hearts to light their way home;

An empty chair, because the missing person cannot be present;

and, an inverted glass, for those missing cannot partake.

Those present took time to remember, visiting with old friends and making new.

The keynote address, by Allen Pannell, administrator of the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance, told about the cemetery and a number of the veterans buried there. Pannell also called on those present, and in every community, to to all they can to help veterans and give them hope. He said in 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported 20 veterans committed suicide every day, with more veterans dying that way than in combat.

In closing Pannell asked those who had served, by branch, to stand and be recognized.

A silent auction took place over the course of the evening, with a live auction capping off the fund rasing events following dinner. A dance put the finishing touch on the evening.

The event was deemed a success by organizers, who said it was beyond their expectations.

"It was way beyond our expectations," said Fred Wiedeburg from VFW Post 610. "It was way bigger than we hoped it would be. The community really turned out for this and supported it and we couldn't be more appreciative."

The group said they appreciated how generous the community was, from businesses who donated goods and services for the auctions, to attendees who contributed through the fund raisers.

To their knowledge, the ball was the first such that has taken place in the community. While they don't know if they would be able to duplicate its success, they said they do hope to put on other activities in the future.