THE PRESIDENT’S PRAYER [President Delano Roosevelt]
JUNE 6, 1944
THE MOST SOLEMN DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY
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 to 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 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 he shaken with the violence 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, arid 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
suns whosesoever they may be.
And. 0 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 is 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
arrogances. 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 scheming of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in
freedom. reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done. Almighty God.
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BOTH OF THESE PRAYERS WERE RECITED BY OUR PRESIDENTS
DURING WARS THAT WE WERE FIGHTING ON OTHER GROUNDS TO KEEP OUR GROUNDS
WITH FREEDOM. The only thing that has changed is the weapons used the attack
on our land and the oppression of others in lands far from ours.
EISENHOWER’S PRAYER
President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first act altars
receiving the oath of office was to over his own prayer for divine guidance.
It was a particularly appropriate action in times
such as these because the nation whose leader he had become is the chief
defender of religion in a world beset hr godless communism.
Because President Eisenhower's prayer, which he wrote
himself, made such a tremendous impression upon his fellow citizens and
revitalized their own faith, it is here reprinted for those, who may wish
to preserve it:
Almighty God, as we stand here at this moment, my
future associates in the executive branch of the government branch of
the government join me in beseeching that Thou wilt make full and complete
our dedication to the service of the people in this throng and their fellow
citizens every to here.
Give us, we pray. The power to discern clearly right
from wrong and
allow all our words and actions to be governed
thereby and by the laws of this land.
Especially we pray that our concern shall be for all
the people regardless of station, race, or calling. May co-operation be
permitted and be the mutual aim of those who, under the concept of our
constitution, hold to differing political beliefs so that all may work
for the good of our beloved country and for Thy glory. Amen.
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IN THIS SECTION WILL BE DISPLAYED THE ARTICLES ON
THOSE WHO GAVE THE MAXIMUM PRICE FOR OUR FREEDOMS.