FDR's D-Day Prayer

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.

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...and it was last year (75th anniversary-2019) that our President read that.

“My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. 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.”

“Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.”

Amen. Thanks to all who have served, all who are serving and all who will serve in the future. Condolences to the families of all who did not return. love.

I was fortunate. All of mom’s 5 brothers made it back.

“There was a young soldier,” Warner says. “He was lying on his back. His head was disconnected and it rolled out on the tide. There were two small cords. I don’t know what they were. The head would go out the length of these cords and the tide would try to bring it back in. I would look at that and be fascinated by it. Sometimes his hair would be combed real nice when the tide came in. Other times, it would be every which way,” - uncle Bill Warner recalling his D-Day experiences to Detroit Free Press reporters in their “A Life On Borrowed Time” - Portraits of War; Sunday June 6, 2004 multi-page article.

R.I.P., Uncle Bill.

This year I sent my D-Day essay and the speeches by Eisenhower, George VI and FDR to the people on my Outlook list.

The three speeches included such phrases as, “ “beseech the blessing of Almighty God”, “join with me in prayer”, “play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide, vigil of prayer”, “O Lord I desire solemnly to call my people to prayer and dedication, “give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee”; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other”, and “Thy will be done, Almighty God”.

In his book D-day Steven E, Ambrose he said,” Others heard the news broadcast on loudspeakers during their night shifts on assembly lines around the country. Men and women paused over their machines, prayed, and returned to work with renewed dedication. Across the United States and Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Arctic to the Gulf Coat, the Church bell rang. Not in triumph or celebration but as a solemn reminder of national unity and a call to formal prayer. Special services were held in every church and synagogue in the land. Pews were jammed.”

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