text: looking for some military toasts for the sgt mess?   here are the toasts:  to the united states of america" (everybody faces the flag) response: "to the nation."  "to the president of the united states" response "th the president"  "to the secretary of defense" response: "to the secretary"  to the chief of staff." response: "to the chief."  "to the wives and sweethearts" response "to our wives and sweethearts."  "ladies and gentlemen - please charge your glasses with water."    (everybody picks up a glass of water and faces the empty table) "to absent comrades" response: "to absent comrades."  (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.)