[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             IN OBSERVANCE OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY

                                 ______


                         HON. THOMAS M. BARRETT

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 1994

  Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, in 1944, Milwaukee community 
leaders founded the War Memorial Corp. ``To Honor the Dead by Serving 
the Living.'' In February of this year, Secretary of Defense Perry 
designated the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center as a Commemorative 
Community for its support of the 50th anniversary of World War II. The 
War Memorial's efforts over the past 50 years to advance civic 
pursuits, culture, education, and art and to draw attention to the 
contributions of our Nation's veterans, which have made Milwaukee a 
better place to live. For this we are grateful.
  In observance of the 50th anniversary of the ``D-day'' invasion of 
Normandy, which heralded the beginning of the end of World War II; in 
memory of the patriots who fought and fell in that battle; in honor of 
the men and women who have served before and since, during peacetime or 
war; and in observance of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the 
Milwaukee County War Memorial, I recommit to our Congressional Record a 
prayer offered by President Franklin Roosevelt to an uncertain people 
on the evening of June 6, 1944:

       ``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 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. They heroic servants, into They 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 
     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 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 They 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 men live in freedom, 
     reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be 
     done, Almighty God. Amen.

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