Harry Kalas will be honored with a special exhibit and celebration of the game opening 1 p.m. Sunday at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia

It’s hard to imagine the voice of Philadelphia Phillies baseball went silent nearly a year ago. Beloved announcer Harry Kalas will be honored with a special exhibit and celebration of the game opening 1 p.m. Sunday at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, where he is buried.

Many of the items featured in the exhibit belonged to Kalas, and include the blue blazer and white loafers that were hung in the dugout as part of the Phillies' tribute to him last season. Guided tours will be offered to Kalas’ grave site, where original seats from Veterans Stadium have been installed.

After viewing the exhibit and taking the tour, visitors can watch the Phillies take on the Houston Astros, on a large screen, while enjoying cold beer and ballpark food. While it might seem a bit strange to be watching a game, having a beer and munching on a hot dog at a cemetery, I think Kalas would be pleased to see Phillies fans celebrating the way they traditionally do, rather than being somber and melancholy.

Tickets are required for the event and include unlimited access, food and drink, cemetery officials say. Cost is $40 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Tickets must be purchased in advance online or by calling 215-228-8200 and can be picked up at the door on Sunday.

All proceeds raised will benefit the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, a nonprofit organization established to support the preservation, educational programming and community outreach initiatives of the historic cemetery, officials say. If you can't make it on Sunday, the exhibit will be on view through Labor Day, a Laurel Hill employee said.

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES