D-Day Prayer...

Today was the 63rd anniversary of D-Day, the Battle of Normandy.

Unbelievable numbers of young men lost their lives on that day.


The United States was unified.


We had a common cause...


A common belief.


We were all Americans.


Today, it seems that many have lost what it means to be an American.


To be an American you must have a strong sense of right and wrong...

And believe in justice.


To be an American you must be willing to help yourself by using your own hands...

Not holding your hands out for free help.


To be an American you must understand what it is to be a neighbor...

And how to be there when you're needed.


To be an American you need to have faith...

For that is what America is, a refuge for the faithful.


To be an American you need to believe in the Constitution...

And have faith that God truly guided the hearts of our Founding Fathers.


To be an American you must be able to pray...

Pray for our country and that our leaders use wisdom.

Pray for the safety of our soldiers...

And pray that we continue to be blessed.


To be an American you must realize what you have...

That your life in the United States is unique and rich...

Unlike any other on earth.


To be an American you must know that you live a life like no other...

Because of those who paid for it.


To be an American you owe a debt that you cannot repay.

America doesn't have a debt that is owed to you.


To be an American you must be respectful...

And honor those who gave you this country.


To be an American you must be willing to do what is necessary in order to guarantee that those who come after you will enjoy the blessings that you have enjoyed.


To be an American you cannot take...

And expect not to give back.



What will you do...

To ensure that the United States of America continues to exist and prosper...

Long after you are gone.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Prayer

June 6, 1944

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.