Well its been a few YEARS since I took off my headliner and I don't remember how the 3rd bow was attached.
The headliner has 5 provissions for bows. I labeled them 1-4(front to back).
Is the 3rd bow(in my case 5th) the rod that runs the width of the ceiling that snaps into the plastic clips?(parallel with the dome light)
Circled(square) in light yellow
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m316/bri2203/1973vette8672.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m316/bri2203/1973vette869.jpg

Well i found out the answer today incase anyone down the road is wondering. The center "bow" snaps into the plastic clips. So the center bow is consider a bow and I didn't loose any items.

Brian

you are correct.

The center one snaps and is kept stationary.

You can then pull the front material forward and the center stays planted...then you work on the rear section...

Hey, do you have a pic where the dome light goes?

By the way, the Obama administration does NOT consider that a bow....