Homily for Memorial Day

For many, Memorial Day Weekend is more than just a three-day break; it marks the unofficial start of summer and serves as a time for solemn commemoration. For those who have lost family members in our nation's wars or military efforts, this day holds even greater significance.

My first visit to the National Mall in Washington, DC, and Arlington National Cemetery occurred in the mid-1980s, shortly after the Vietnam War Memorial, a monument dedicated to the American soldiers who died or went missing in the Vietnam War, was erected. I was deeply moved by the seemingly endless rows of grave markers at Arlington and the nearly 60,000 names inscribed on this powerful memorial.

It's essential to remember that behind every marker and name lies a real person who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and the hope of peace in the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to these brave individuals. Each death altered the course of history for individual families and their communities, who stood in grief with them and continue to remember them today.

This day also serves as a time to honor all our beloved deceased. Many people will visit cemeteries across the nation today, bringing a physical presence as they remember their loved ones. It's a time for personal reflection, a moment to contemplate the impact of loss on our lives and the hope that sustains us.

Let us pray today for all of our beloved deceased and for ourselves, as this day reminds us of both our mortality on earth and our hope for immortality in heaven. This hope, this belief in heaven, is what uplifts us and gives us the strength to carry on.