Memorial Day is a day of national mourning, a day we remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country, Bishop Nelson Perez told the congregation assembled at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland for the annual Memorial Day Mass on May 28. Calvary is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
Nearly 100 people gathered on the hot, sunny morning for the outdoor liturgy. Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries was among the concelebrants and members of the Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard.
?This is supposed to be a day of national mourning, yet on the news shows this morning they were obsessed with how to make the perfect burger. They mentioned mourning and remembering those who died in service, but then they moved into talking about sunscreen and how it?s the first day of the summer season,? Bishop Perez said.
?This is a day when we remember the ultimate sacrifice, but there?s much talk about sales,? he said. ?As we were preparing to celebrate Memorial Day, there was a celebration of another kind last night,? he said, referring to the Cleveland Cavaliers? victory over the Boston Celtics, which advances them to the NBA championship series. ?There was a lot of yelling, cheering and car horns honking downtown. It was a good game,? he added.
?They were celebrating some people who chase a ball down the court and get paid millions. Some might say we lost the meaning of the day, but that?s not so. Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice did so in order that we could celebrate things like the perfect burger and a day at the beach. I see that as an affirmation that their death was not in vain. That?s what we?re here to remember. They gave their lives so we could celebrate,? the bishop said.
?They wouldn?t want us beating our chests all day long and crying. They would want us to enjoy the fruits of their lives so that their deaths were not in vain,? he added.
Bishop Perez said as he?s traveled to other countries in recent years, he?s noticed that we don?t realize what we have in the United States. He said in other countries people don?t have the freedoms we enjoy here, things that we may not appreciate.
?The great sacrifice made by these people we remember today made this possible for us. We remember them and the Church celebrates their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families, as well. Life as they knew it changed,? he said, ?but it didn?t end. Their sacrifice gives us the freedom to celebrate life and our faith without consequences.?
As Mass ended, the Knights of Columbus formed an honor guard and led the bishop and concelebrants back to the Catholic Cemeteries Association offices.
