• An elegant dinner with military members is not simply about place settings. It is about the complete ambiance in the room and special touches that are included. Ensure that you have patriotic music playing in the background and the American flag on display predominantly in the space. Ensure that your guests are comfortable with the dinner arrangement and that they are aware of the formal nature of the event.
  
  

Linens

• Use military embossed linens on the tables. This will support the elegance of the dinner and emphasize the military pride. Many branches of the military will imprint special linens with their specific seal. Include cloth napkins with the same impression at each place setting. Coordinate the colors with solid table linens and matching napkins to enhance the décor.
  
  

Place Setting

• The proper set-up of your dinnerware is essential for an elegant table setting. The dinner plate should be placed directly in front of the diner, the salad plate atop the dinner plate and the bread plate to the left above the fork. The forks are placed to the left of the plate with the knife -- cutting edge faces in -- and spoon on the right side. The butter knife is placed on the bread plate. Utensils are placed in the order of use, so the salad fork is on the outside of the diner's dinner fork. Beverage glasses are on the right and wine glasses are to the right of the beverage glass. The coffee cup is placed on the right of the spoon.
  
  

Center Piece

• Keep the lighting low and place a candle (with a cover, for safety) in the center of each table. Surround the candle with red and white flowers and include small flags with the centerpiece. If there are guests of honor, include a shadow box with photos and awards that they have received. Keep it simple to enhance the elegance of the event.