Tuesday, June 6, 2017

D-Day: "our united crusade"

Colorized  photo courtesy of Marina Amaral
For the 73rd anniversary of the D-Day invasion yesterday, I repost the following presidential address which was made on the night of June 6, 1944. It's hard to believe words like these could be convincingly broadcast by any major western leader today. Let this be our prayer, to find the same stoutness of heart and be granted "faith in our united crusade" against the terrors of the enemy.

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"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."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

Mass is celebrated atop the hood of a military vehicle on Omaha beach, following the successful invasion

12 comments:

  1. You should read the book "American Betrayal"
    The Author's name is Diane,can't remember her last name off hand.
    All those men on D-Day died unnecessarily.
    Patton suggested cutting up north through Italy rather than having tens of thousands of men die for no reason.
    Roosevelt and others decided on France so "Uncle" Joe Stalin would have time to reach & Germany and receive his "Prize" (His words not mine)
    The only force that truly won anything substantial in WW2 was Communism.
    Britian lost their empire,America was able to build military bases all over Europe.Other than that, neither country didn't receive much else except a bunch of dead men.
    Besides,the USSR military was funded by the Americans.
    The USSR had more American Army Jeeps in 1945 than the actual American Army.

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    1. You must be referring to the book by Diana West.

      I'm sure better strategies could have been formulated for winning World War II. You know what they say about hindsight already. As for FDR, he's far from my favorite president, but I remain skeptical about claims of him being a Communist agent. Sorry.

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    2. Yes Diana West is correct.
      Have you read the book?
      Its a great start for someone who hasn't learned about the other side of WW2 that we weren't taught.
      WW2 was one of the most unnecessary violent tragedies in world history.
      Same with WW1 but that war does not have the interest level as WW2.
      I will agree to disagree on Roosevelt.

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    3. Ha! So what are your thoughts about the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq War?

      >WW2 was one of the most unnecessary violent tragedies in world history.

      Okay, go build a time machine and stop Hitler then. Good luck.

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  2. Yes Diana West is correct.
    Have you read that book?
    Its a great start for someone who hasnt learned the other side of WW2.
    WW2 was one of the most violent deadly unnecessary tragedies in world history.
    I will agree to disagree on Roosevelt.

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  3. To me, Roosevelt's prayer reads a lot like a long and very cruel joke. To ensure this "peace that will let all of men live in freedom" Roosevelt and Churchill sold half of the Europe to Stalin, who in turn went to great lengths to top the attrocities of his former ally, Hitler. But rejoice, the good guys won.

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  4. Replies
    1. If Germany had won,the European continent would be experiencing its current Islamic nightmare.
      Yes Germany had Islamic soldiers but that was to be used as an occupational force for Asia Minor had Germany won the War.

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    2. Correction
      *If Germany had won,Europe WOULD NOT be experiencing its current Islamic nightmare*

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  5. President Hoover suggested staying out of Europe all together while building up the military,and dealing with the winner of Germany/USSR.
    Hoover noticed Germany kept going further East and had no intention of going West.
    He didn't know Roosevelt was going to supply genocidal USSR with generous military aid and help them take half of Europe!
    "Communism through the back Door" is a free documentary on YouTube that is worth watching!

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  6. Excellent post. Love the armchair historians with their particular tone here in the comment section ... Pretty typical. They sound so miserable.

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