By THERESE HORVAT
The new Veterans Memorial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 126th and Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., will be dedicated on Saturday, Oct. 27, by the Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
Archbishop Naumann will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. in the Holy Redeemer Mausoleum Chapel at the cemetery. Rev. Msgr. Gary Applegate, judicial vicar, will be master of ceremonies.
Following Mass, Archbishop Naumann will bless the outdoor memorial in a brief ceremony. Area veterans and community residents are invited to attend.
While located in a Catholic cemetery, the memorial is intended to remember and honor veterans of all faiths, from all wars, both living and deceased.
The U.S. flag waves over the new memorial that includes monuments and flags representing the five branches of the United States Armed Forces. The monuments feature etched granite replicas of each service’s emblem.
Connecting the five monuments are granite walls, on which family members and friends can remember veterans by having their names engraved, explained Robert W. Chenoweth, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries.
Names can also be engraved on bricks that line the path leading up to the memorial.
“We have a variety of giving opportunities,” Chenoweth said, “for people who want to express public recognition of family members or friends who have served or currently serve in the Armed Forces.”
The cemetery has also designated a section surrounding the memorial for burial of veterans and their spouses. Burial space in this section is available at no charge to veterans.
The veteran or family is responsible for expenses associated with opening and closing the gravesite, the vault and a setting fee for the marker; the U.S. government furnishes the grave marker.
For additional fees, the veteran’s spouse can acquire adjoining space and cover expenses associated with the opening, closing, vault and marker.
For more information about the Veterans Memorial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, the Oct. 27 Mass and dedication or Catholic Cemeteries, call 913-371-4040, email information@cathcemks.org or visit www.cathcemks.org.
