Fr. Mark's Letter in Memorial Day Bulletin

Dear Parishioners,

Memorial Day is a holiday that is rich in meaning, but a lot of its original significance has been lost. We seem to use the holiday as a way to mark the beginning of summer. Picnics take place. We embark on vacations and that seems to be what is important. That is not what this day is all about.

The civil war was the event that sparked the desire for Memorial Day. This was a horrendous event in the history of our country. 620,000 soldiers lost their lives. If we look at the deaths of military men and women in all of our other wars the total would be slightly over the number of military deaths in the civil war. Because of the great loss of life there was a desire to grieve and to pray for those who died. There was also a hunger for a peace that would last indefinitely.

Unfortunately peace has not come to our country. We continue to have soldiers fight and die. We seem to be less able to wage peace than to wage war. Our world is in great turmoil, especially so today. We recall that since 9/11 our country seems to be in constant state of war and there does not seem to be an end in sight. Broken lives and more death is the result of more war.

A good thing to do ourselves and to do with children might be to try to recapture the spirit of this day. There are two Masses at Catholic cemeteries in Rock Island and East Moline on Monday. Could we take time to attend and pray for our beloved dead and for peace? I remember throughout the years celebrating such field Masses. Veterans gathered with us (some of them my relatives) and it was moving to see their emotion and faith. I was reminded at those times of the cost of armed conflict. If we could take the time to celebrate this holiday as it was meant to be observed maybe the result would be a more tranquil and secure world.

Have a reflective holiday.

Blessings

Fr. Mark