A Prayer On Going Into Battle
We owe it to those who lost their lives in service to be the country worth the lives they gave.
This prayer was in the back of the New Testament my dad carried into battle during WWII:
A Prayer on Going Into Battle
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, grant unto us this day such strength and courage in thy service on land, on sea, and in the air, that we may faithfully defend and preserve the liberties and the lives of all thy dear children who are now suffering from unprovoked aggression and from unjust attack. May thy Fatherly hand ever be over us! May thy Holy Spirit ever be with us, so that we may quickly scatter those who delight in war; and may build an enduring peace founded upon thy holy laws and upon that unselfish good will to all those who love justice and peace, which Thou hast given unto us through Jesus Christ, thine only son, our Lord! Amen.
We owe it to the men and women we memorialize tomorrow to be a country worth the cost of their service and their lives.
We can do that by being the America that doesn’t send young men and women to fight wars we have no intention of winning.
That is not to say that there weren’t some just causes in the conflicts we have chosen since WWII, there have been – but war is not a trip to MacDonald’s drive thru – it isn’t over in a couple of minutes, and it isn’t won by trying to bribe the enemy into liking you.
We owe it to those who died to understand the mistakes of our political and military leadership and culture and to change both when they no longer support the mission.
We can do that by not becoming a nation so nihilistic, the unsaid message we send to our youth is that the deck is so stacked against them, there is no way they can succeed.
We can do that by being the people we once were, a nation of people for whom the fight is worth fighting.
We can do it by being the people of that prayer.
Their mission is our mission. America always advances. We never stop until the objective is attained.
To the families of men and women who gave their all and wore the uniform, I mourn your loss, I honor your sacrifice, and I appreciate the life given in service to our country.
Others may do so, but I make this solemn vow: I will not forget.
These things I pray to Almighty God.
Amen.
Stole the prayer.