Monday, May 31^st is Memorial Day.  It is a national holiday observed on the last Monday of May to honor the men and women who died while serving or died after serving in the U.S. military. Nowadays, however, the true meaning of this holiday seems to have been eclipsed by an extended weekend to go off on a short holiday, to have a backyard barbecue, to relax at a beach, and to go shopping.

While I see nothing wrong with that, I think it is also proper to give ourselves a moment of silence to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day and that the reason we are able to enjoy the holiday celebration we now have is because of the valiant efforts of those men and women who sacrificed their lives to make it happen. They are our heroes!

Now we have new kind of heroes fitting to be memorialized as well, as many of them too have died and many continue to risk their lives to fight a different kind of war – our war against a deadly pandemic. They are the front liners in the medical field, the grocery workers, fire fighters, farm workers, and researchers and scientists who are tirelessly battling to end a vicious pandemic so that we can once again enjoy the normal the life we used to have. They are our modern day Heroes!

All of our heroes deserve this day to be memorialized with great honor and gratitude – and for all of our working heroes, let us pray that the Good Lord will keep them safe, sound and healthy for the sake of  the people that they serve and for sake of their loved ones as well.

On behalf of Fr. Edgar and the Parish and School Staff, I wish you all a safe Memorial Day!