Franklin
Delano Roosevelt
—
US President 1933 - 1945
On
June 6, 1944, the day that "Operation Overlord" of the Normandy invasion
occurred, FDR, in a radio address, asked everyone listening to join him 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 civilization,
and to set free a suffering humanity . . .They will need Thy blessings. Their
road will be long and hard . . . Some will never return. 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 this hour of great sacrifice … Give us strength,
too . . .And, 0 Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee, faith in our sons,
faith in our sons, faith in each other, faith in our united crusade. With thy
blessings, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy . . . Thy will
be done, Almighty God, Amen."[27]