As the sun rises on Memorial Day, casting its first light on graves adorned with flags and flowers, our thoughts turn to remembrance. It is a day steeped in solemnity and gratitude, as we honor the men and women who gave their lives for our country. The peace, prosperity and liberty we enjoy reflect the heavy cost they bore. Memorial Day inspires us towards the highest form of human expression enabled by Divine grace: selfless love.
The selfless love and devotion can be found in the heroic story of Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Peralta. A Catholic Mexican-American from San Diego, Sgt. Peralta achieved U.S. citizenship through his service in the Marine Corps, taking great pride in his American identity. His bedroom walls were adorned solely with the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and a photo from his boot camp graduation. In a heartfelt letter to his younger brother Ricardo, he wrote, “You should be proud of being an American. Our father came to this country and became a citizen because it was the right place for our family to be. If anything happens to me, just remember I’ve already lived my life to the fullest.”
In November of 2004, Sgt. Peralta had been deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, along with his fellow Marines from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. He was a platoon scout, which meant he could have stayed back in safety while the squads of 1st Platoon went into the danger-filled streets, but he always sought opportunities to go above and beyond his call of duty.
On Nov. 15, Sgt. Peralta’s unit was sent to clear buildings in a particularly volatile area of downtown Fallujah. Sgt. Peralta led his team through three house clearings before charging into a fourth house. After finding two rooms empty on the ground floor, he opened a third door and was hit multiple times with fire, leaving him severely wounded. Sgt. Peralta fell to the floor, moving aside to enable the Marines behind him to return fire. The insurgents then threw a hand grenade at the Marines. Still conscious on the floor — despite the wounds to his head and torso — Sgt. Peralta pulled the grenade under his body, absorbing the blast and shrapnel. He died instantly, saving the lives of his fellow Marines. He was only 25 years old.
As Catholics, we find this profound sacrifice and selfless love in the celebration of the most Holy Eucharist, where we hear the words of Jesus, “Do this in memory of Me.” (Lk 22:19) In the Eucharist, we partake of the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, who sacrificed Himself for the redemption of humanity. The Last Supper represented a moment of supreme sacrifice. It prefigured the cross, where Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of the world would be consummated. The Eucharist is a sacrifice that, unlike any other, remains ever-present in the memory of the Church and is presented in every celebration of the Mass. It is in the Eucharist where we find the courage to live out the Christian call to love, serve and sacrifice for others. Just as our nation’s fallen embody the virtues of courage, loyalty and duty, we are called to embody Christ’s virtues of love, sacrifice and eternal hope.
On Memorial Day, as we remember the valor and sacrifice of those like Sgt. Peralta, who fought and died for earthly ideals, we are also called to reflect on the spiritual battle fought by Christ, who laid down His life not for a nation but for the salvation of all humanity. Both call us to a higher standard of love and sacrifice, reminding us of the costs of freedom, both physical and spiritual.
The Eucharist and Memorial Day challenge us to remember and act. Christ’s command to “Do this in memory of Me” is not merely a call to remember a historical event, but to make His sacrificial love a living reality in our lives. He calls us to transform our lives in imitation of His own love and sacrifice, to carry our crosses daily, and to lay down our lives in service to others. In remembering the fallen on Memorial Day, we are reminded of the fragility of life and the supreme cost of freedom and peace.
As we commemorate Memorial Day and participate in the Eucharist, we are invited to deepen our understanding of sacrifice and love. Both urge us to live in a way that honors those who have given everything for others — whether on the battlefield of war or on the cross at Calvary. In this way, we keep alive the memory of those who have gone before us, like Sgt. Peralta. We honor their legacy in the love we share with others, following the example of our Lord, who says to each of us: “Do this in memory of Me.”
By Andrea DePaola