Overcast sky and predictions of even more rain on the horizon made for a slightly smaller turnout than usual at the annual Memorial Day Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield on May 27. Still, over 225 people, including some families with multi-generation members or small children turned out.

Many people brought their own folding chairs to sit on, but a good number of folding chairs were available in the two large tents set up for participants on either side of the tent erected for the cemetery's permanent altar, located amid the graves of deceased diocesan priests.

Bishop Paprocki was joined by transitional Deacon Steven Arisman, Father John Nolan, dean of the Springfield deanery, and Deacons Ben Hoefler, David Erdmann and Roch Magerl.

The Blessed Sacrament Children's Choir under the direction of Jody Kienzler, playing the keyboard, led the singing, with Jamie Greenwald and Lou Ann Mack as cantors.

Because of the weather, the Knights of Columbus, who served as honor guard for the bishop at the Mass, opted not to wear their traditional plumed hats and satin cloaks.

In his homily Bishop Paprocki recalled the history of Memorial Day — dating back to its origins after the Civil War, when people put decorations on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Ironically, during one part of Mass, in the distance could be heard the sounds of gunfire, as a Memorial Day service was under way in the adjacent Oak Ridge Cemetery.