President Franklin Roosevelt Prays For D-Day Troops In National Address June 6, 1944
The importance of D-Day cannot be overstated. Both General Dwight Eisenhower’s Order of the Day to the troops who would be landing at Normandy, and President Roosevelt’s prayer to the nation address the cause of freedom and the defeat of tyranny in the name of God.
D-Day is considered as the quintessential turning point in the war against Nazi tyranny in Europe. It is not possible in a short space to describe all that the invasion of Normandy accomplished and set in motion. One history website concludes its introduction to D-Day as follows:
The Normandy invasion began to turn the tide against the Nazis. A significant psychological blow, it also prevented Hitler from sending troops from France to build up his Eastern Front against the advancing Soviets. The following spring, on May 8, 1945, the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. Hitler had committed suicide a week earlier, on April 30.
FDR Addresses The Nation On The Day Prior To D-Day June 5, 1944
The date and timing of the Normandy invasion had been top secret. During a national radio broadcast on June 5 about the Allied liberation of Rome, President Roosevelt made no mention of the Normandy operation, already underway at that time.
FDR’s D-Day Address To The Nation Is A Prayer June 6, 1944
On the night of June 6, 1944, President Roosevelt went on national radio to address the nation for the first time about the Normandy invasion. His speech took the form of a prayer signifying the gravity of the situation. Like any effective leader, he also understood that prayer would bring comfort for the present and hope for the future.
FDR D-Day Prayer
“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 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.”
For more info on D-Day:
- https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/exhibits/online-exhibits
- https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/d-day
President Franklin Roosevelt and General Dwight D. Eisenhower travel from North Africa to Sicily, December 1943. This was shortly after General Eisenhower had been named Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Eisenhower led the D-Day Normandy Invasion.
Praying America Great Again includes having military leaders with integrity like General Eisenhower. Today, many of America’s top brass have become highly politicized. When they act out in public (as General Mattis did on June 3, 2020), it is really ugly. General Mattis has stained himself in the public eye. By availing himself as a tool for the political left, he has betrayed his oath to uphold the Constitution and to fight for America. We thank him for his military service to the U.S. in the past. But for now, we prefer he would fade into retirement.
