Dear Readers: 

I had intended to post this yesterday, on the 65th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.  Unfortunately (and as so often!) personal matters intruded.  What I present here is among the most moving appeals to God ever spoken by a Head of State, to and in behalf of his nation in a time of war.

Within a 24 hour period in early June, 1944, two mighty events had occurred in the greatest war in human history.  After a long, hard campaign, Rome had fallen to the combined Anglo-American armies and Italy had surrendered.  Then, to the north, the long-awaited assault on Germany's vaunted "Fortress Europe" was launched; an armada of 7,000 ships carrying 150,000 fighting men- American, British, Canadian and Free French- in the greatest military operation of all time.

Even as President Franklin D. Roosevelt sat down to deliver this historic broadcast on the evening of June 6th, the issue was still in doubt.  Powerful German armored and artillery units still threatened the beachheads.  Scattered American paratroopers on the Cotentin Peninsula were still savagely fighting for survival without relief.  On Omaha Beach, the bodies of hundreds of American soldiers still littered the shore, their blood dyeing the sands and the waters a vivid crimson that could be seen from the supporting ships.

Yet, the latest reports were carrying an increasingly positive note.  Much had gone wrong, but a lot more hadn't.  While nearly 3,000 men had given their lives on that first day, pre-invasion projections had predicted higher.  Much higher, in fact.  And, while the troops had not progressed far inland from the beaches, they had apparently achieved a semi-stable "toehold" on the mainland of France.

On that basis- and as cognizant as ever of the huge consequences of either success or failure- FDR offered these words to a breathless nation.

ROOSEVELT'S D-DAY PRAYER

My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke to you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that the 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, the 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 prevail.

They will be sore tried by day and night without rest... until victory is won.  The darkness will be rent by noise and flame.  Men's souls will be shaken by 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 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 to a single day of special prayer.  But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves to 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 the 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 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 reward of their honest toil.

Thy Will be done, Almighty God.  Amen

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; June 6, 1944.