Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of San Jose honored those who have died in service to the United States with special Masses on Memorial Day at historic Calvary Cemetery in San Jose and at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos.
Knights of Columbus formed a Color Guard and American Legions members and Scouts participated in veterans’ tributes which preceded the Masses.
Father Donald Morgan, pastor of Five Wounds Parish in San Jose, celebrated the Mass at Calvary. Bishop Patrick J. McGrath celebrated the Mass at Gate of Heaven.
Gate of Heaven has a Veterans’ section near the entrance to the cemetery at which is featured six stone monuments honoring branches of the U.S. military – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard – and those Missing In Action (MIAs).
Graves in the section were all marked with U.S. flags and the central flag was ceremoniously lowered to half-staff just before the Mass began.
In his homily, Bishop McGrath said, “We thank

all the people who have perished for the sake of others. We thank them and their families for their sacrifice.”
He said that May 31 was “one of the great feasts of Mary, Our Blessed Mother, commemorating her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Both of these women said ‘yes’ to God.
“Elizabeth was older and was anticipating her new role of mother. Mary was young and taking on her role as the mother of God.”
The bishop said that today’s world seems to be full of “no’s” – “no peace, no security, no work, no money, no home, and very often no hope. On this day we give praise and love to God and pray that we permit ourselves to say ‘yes’ to all that is good.
“We must be followers of Christ and be Christ in our world – like those veterans buried here who said ‘yes’ – so that you and I may be ready to live in peace.”