Two Bell Ceremony

There is a table set with the items below and the ceremony is dedicated to our fallen shipmates.

Master of Ceremonies - MC

MC - "ON THE TABLE SITS A RED ROSE TO SIGNIFY THE BLOOD OUR FALLEN SHIPMATES SHED, A CRYSTAL GLASS OF WATER TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST FOR FREEDOM. SALT TO REMIND US OF THE PAIN THEY FEEL LEST WE FORGET THEM. THE CHINA IS BONE WHITE AS IS THE PURITY OF THEIR HEARTS AND SACRIFICES. THIS, ON A WHITE LINEN TABLE CLOTH THAT COULD BE USED AS A CLEAN BANDAGE FOR THEIR WOUNDS. WE TAKE THIS TIME TO REMEMBER THEM. THE PLACE WE SET FOR THEM THIS EVENING IS A SPECIAL PLACE. AS IS THE PLACE WE HOLD FOR THEM IN OUR HEARTS, OUR MINDS, AND OUR NAVY." (PAUSE)

"IN DAYS PAST, TWO BELLS (toll two bells here) MARKED THE END OF THE ROUTINE DAY ABOARD A SHIP. IT WAS TIME FOR TATOO, AND SOON, TAPS WOULD SOUND THROUGHOUT THE SHIP. CERTAINLY, THIS IS A MOST APPROPRIATE TIME TO HONOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS."

"THE TOLL OF THE SHIP'S BELL REMINDS US OF THE REVERENCE WE OWE TO OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES;
(toll two bells here)

TO THOSE WHO GUARD THE HONOR OF OUR COUNTRY.........UPON THE SEA........IN THE AIR........AND ON FOREIGN SOIL.
(toll two bells here)

LET IT BE A REMINDER OF THE FAITH THEY CONFIDE IN US;
(toll two bells here)

LET US WHO GATHER HERE NOT FORGET OUR OBLIGATIONS, AND IN SILENCE, BREATHE A PRAYER FOR OUR ABSENT SHIPMATES.
(toll two bells here)

LET US OFFER A SILENT PRAYER FOR OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES (10 SECOND PAUSE). THIS MOMENT OF REVERENCE WE DEDICATE TO THE MEMORY OF OUR SHIPMATES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.
(toll two bells here)

(BUGLER PLAYS TAPS SLOWLY AFTER THE RINGING OF THE BELLS)

(AFTER THE SOUND OF THE HORN FADES, BRING UP THE HOUSE LIGHTS. WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT, THE ESCORT WILL REMOVE THE TABLE FROM THE DANCE FLOOR.)

Last preventive maintenance on this page December 29, 2005.