10 p.m., June 6, 1944   

   President Roosevelt prays by radio   

-in part-

   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. ...we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. 

   They will be sole tired, 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.

   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. 

   Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

   ...help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. 

   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. 

   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 Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. 

   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 our 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