Mass at St. Peter Parish honors American Veterans

Intermountain Catholic

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Fr. James Blaine (right) reaches to bless Ethan Marriott carried by his grandfather Chief Warrant Officer Tom Williams, who serves full time with the Utah National Guard. William's son-in-law, Marine Cpl. Joseph Marriott has been serving in Fallujah, Iraq for four years. The Veterans received Communion first at the Mass in their honor.IC photo by Christine Young

AMERICAN FORK — "We remember this day because on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour in Europe in 1918, the war to end all wars – World War I – came to end," said Father James Blaine, pastor of American Fork Parish and chaplain of the Utah State Prison Nov. 11.

"This is a very special Mass for our veterans," said Fr. Blaine. "We pray especially for all those who gave their lives in battle for us."

Fr. Blaine did not serve in the military, but his father served in the Philippines during World War II, and his grandfather served during World War I.

"I have traveled throughout our country and seen many battlefields from the colonial wars, the Revolutionary War, and the Day of Infamy from World War II in Pearl Harbor," said Fr. Blaine in his homily. "Every time I visit a battle field, I can just imagine these individual people giving their all to fighting. The most moving part is to go through the cemeteries, especially Arlington. To see those stones lined up, and to see all these men and women who gave their lives to fight in wars for us that we may be free, is a moving sight.

"So for me this is a beautiful opportunity to honor all those here at St. Peter who served and are serving to defend our country," said Fr. Blaine. "Even at this very moment there are some relatives of our parishioners who are fighting in Iraq. Fortunately we have had some of our parishioners who were over there and have come back. To see their dedication is very moving.

"I personally want to thank all of you who fought, and all of you who have served and are serving," said Fr. Blaine. "We don’t hear that too often now days, but it is a great honor to have you present."

Florence Moore, 92, was present. She was a United States Marine from 1942 until 1945 when the war ended.

"I was teaching school for the blind in Wisconsin when I heard on the radio about some Marines going into the service, and I said that is what I want to do," said Moore. "My family was shocked. But they had to support me, I had already been sworn in. I was sent to New River, N.C., Atlanta, Ga., Washington, D. C., and Cherry Point, N.C. During that time I worked in the library and was in charge of training films.

"One day, I was working in a wooden building and it caught on fire. We were on the second floor and we could not get out," said Moore. "I was sent to a naval hospital in Bathesda, Md., for plastic surgery on my arms and legs. I spent the rest of my time in the hospital, and was honorably discharged in 1945 when the war was over. If I had not been put out on a medical, I would have stayed in. I loved the Marine Corps."

Moore married in 1946, and had one son. She lived in Albuquerque, N.M., for 52 years before moving to Utah to be with her nephew, Ray Folks, who served as a Marine in Vietnam from 1962-1966.

SFC Justin Johnson will be on active duty until Dec. 10, 2007. He is stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y., and has been serving in the U.S. Army since 1996.

Joe Pantos, a long time parishioner of St. Peter Parish, is a veteran of the Korean War. He started planning this Mass in August when he realized Veteran’s Day fell on a Sunday. There were veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Middle Eastern Wars represented at this Mass sponsored by Escalante Knight of Columbus Assembly No. 1146.