A fallen comrade table was placed at the forefront

A fallen comrade table was placed at the forefront of the banquet hall in Catania, Sicily, Nov. 14, 2014, where the Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen of SPMAGTF-Crisis Response-Africa celebrated the 239th Marine Corps Birthday. The table is to remember the fallen, but not forgotten service members who were not able to celebrate the birthday with the rest of the Corps. The single lighted candle signifies the flame of eternal life and that the memory of fallen comrades will be with us always. The Purple Heart medal is displayed to reflect the shedding of blood and the ebb of life in battle. The identification tags are blank, yet they could bear the name of any of the service members at the ball. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)