“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 goodwill 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 keeness 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 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 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.
Click here to watch a
video with FDR's D-Day
Prayer
