There are many speeches and commemorations to remember
D-Day, this pivotal turning point in World War II – but for me, one of the most
poignant moments, was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s prayer, after he
announced the surprise Normandy invasion, to our country on national radio.
"Last night… troops of the United States and our allies
were crossing the Channel. It has come to pass with success thus far. And
so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have
set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion,
and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them
straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness
in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and
hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not
come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that
by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will
triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without
rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame.
Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They
fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to
liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among
all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the
haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive
them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives,
sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are
ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith
in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single
day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I
ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to
each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our
lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to
redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of
our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail,
to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever
they may be.
And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in
our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the
keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events,
of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our
unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces
of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies.
Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world
unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of
unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the
just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen."
June 6, 1944
No comments:
Post a Comment