Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos veterans and other residents observed Memorial Day, May 31, with a tribute and the celebration of Mass at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery on Cristo Rey Drive.
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and Catholic clergy, the Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Francis Celia, vicar for clergy, Diocese of San Jose.
William Goss, Los Altos resident and a past district commander of American Legion Post 558, conducted the veterans' invocation.
"Memorial Day is more than a day to decorate the graves of our honored dead. Memorial Day is a day to reaffirm our faith in a creator who intended all people to be free - a faith that those who fight for freedom will prevail over those who fight for tyranny," Goss said.
Goss said elders have a mission to teach the young people of today a respect for America's values by acquainting them with the price paid to preserve and ensure their freedom. In doing this, we help young people realize that freedom, justice, and democracy are worth defending, he said.
Discussing the world today, Goss said history also teaches us the world will never run out of threats to our freedom. We won the cold war, but our world must now contend with Milosovic in Kosovo and Hussein in Iraq. In addition, China has a disturbing aspiration for nuclear and strategic supremacy, he said.
"Clearly, future generations may be called upon again to make a sacrifice for freedom," Goss said. "That's why today we must pull our children and grandchildren aside and explain that faith without sacrifice is like building a house without a plan or an architect.
"We must reaffirm our faith in democracy by honoring those who deferred their dreams for the sake of ours."
Refreshments were provided at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery following Goss' invocation and the celebration of Mass.