On June 6, 1944, Allied Forces under the command of General Dwight Eisenhower launched an attack across the English Channel against German forces deeply fortified into the French coast of Normandy. The operation was not assured of success. If it failed, Hitler’s military position in the war would be greatly strengthened, and the war could drag into a deadlock which would leave Europe under his brutal occupation. At the end of ferocious fighting, the Allied Forces secured positions ashore and the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Germany were underway. The Allies paid for that foothold with 4400 dead, of which 2500 were American. The American Armed Forces were made up of civilians who joined out of the conviction that the world was facing a terrible evil which disdained all concepts of respect for human life and the liberty of peoples, and they shouldered the responsibility of opposing it with military force. This link to an inspiring message given by President Ronald Reagan on a commemoration of that landing is moving, somber and an exhortation to never forget the courage of those who went into battle on that day, the enormous price they paid, and the value of the liberty they have willed on to us, beneficiaries of their sacrifice. youtube/watch?v=eEIqdcHbc8I&feature=youtu.be FDR’S D-DAY PRAYER June 6, 1944 The White House Washington, D.C. 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 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.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 01:33:33 +0000
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