Garden Of Gethsemani

Memorial Day Service at The Gardens at Gethsemane Brings Out Locals, Politicians

Hundreds gathered at The Gardens at Gethsemane on Monday morning for the cemetery's 43rd Annual Memorial Day Service.

State Senator Mike Rush, D-Boston, delivered a video message to the audience from Iraq where he is currently deployed with the Navy Reserves. Guest speaker Walter F. Carter, the author of "No Greater Sacrifice, No Greater Love," spoke about his father, who died in World War II. The West Roxbury VFW Post 2902, which conducted the service -- honored all those who lost their lives defending America.

"It's time to remember those who have served, those currently serving, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice," said Rush on a series of HDTVs lined up in front of Memorial Cannon at the Gardens.

Carter's book details his getting to know his father, who died when Carter was just 4-years-old on D-Day in Normandy, through letters historical studies in the late 1990s. In most of the letters, which Carter acquired after his mother's death, Dr. Elmer Norval Carter spoke of his love for his children and his wife. They also, however, expressed a sense of pride in fighting for America in World War II.

"We realized we are fighting for a way of life that is right in the eyes of God and men," read the younger Carter.

Boston City Councilors Matt O'Malley, John Connolly and Rob Consalvo, and Tom McDonough, an aide in City Council President Steve Murphy's office, presented Carter with a resolution the four councilors had drafted in honor of his book prior to his speech.

Members of the West Roxbury VFW. Post 2902, led by Commander Richard F. Gormley of Gormley Funeral Home , who served with the US Marine Corps in the Vietnam War, placed flowers and a wreath on the USS Constitution's Memorial Cannon in honor of fallen American servicemen and women. Gail and Carl Sprague, the sister and brother-in-law of Lance Corporal Paul Reid of the US Marine Corps, placed a memorial wreath at the Garden of Honor. Reid was the first West Roxbury serviceman to die in Vietnam and the service had traditionally been planned in his honor.

State Rep. Ed Coppinger, D-West Roxbury, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance near the end of the service.

The Mark Bacon Trumpeters and Sgt. Timothy Horan of the Boston Police Gaelic Column provided musical interludes during the event. Demetrios Tsaniklades, Jr. led the crowd in renditions of "Proud to Be an American" and the National Anthem.

Saints and Sidewalks: In the Garden of Gethsemani

Within the past few weeks they were joined by Fr. DeVore's friend Fr. Matthew Kelty, another monk of Gethsemani. Fr. Kelty was famous for the marvelous talks he used to give after Compline, the service that begins at 7:30 p.m. The nonogenerian had to give that up a few years ago, but on our last visit he was still a highly visible part of the community of monks. His absence this year was palpable.

The watches of the sacred passion, with before and after

The dolorous passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Gethsemani Encounter, A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics

The Catholic encyclopedia, an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church

The Catholic encyclopedia, an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church