text: Here are the toasts:\n\nTo the United States of America"\n(Everybody faces the flag)\nResponse: "To The Nation."\n\n"To The president Of The United States"\nResponse "Th The President"\n\n"To the Secretary Of Defense"\nResponse: "To The Secretary"\n\nTo The Chief Of Staff."\nResponse: "To The Chief."\n\n"To the wives and sweethearts"\nResponse "To Our Wives and Sweethearts."\n\n"Ladies And Gentlemen - Please charge your glasses with water."  \n<Pause>\n(everybody picks up a glass of water and faces the empty table)\n"To Absent Comrades"\nResponse: "To Absent Comrades."\n\n(Note: it is a very serious etiquette breach to toast 'Absent Comrades" with anything but water.  This toast is a memorial to those who have died serving their nation and is drunk in solemn remembrance - not as a celebration.)