76 years since D-Day - The Normandy Landings
The picture to the right is of US Army troops wading ashore on Omaha Beach on the morning of 6th June 1944.
On 6th June 2020, it was 76 years ago to the very day.
One can barely even begin to imagine the sheer terror which must have been coursing through the veins of each and every soldier present on that day, fighting so bravely to liberate occupied Europe, and end World War II.
The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and over 156,115 Allied soldiers invaded Normandy, France. The operation is what contributed largely to an Allied victory in the war.
That date has been referred to ever since by the short title D-Day, which in the military was a commonly used term for the day on which a combat attack or operation was to be initiated. However, since 1944, planners of later military operations have avoided the term rendering it synonymous to that important date in history alone.
There are several radio shows on RUSC which commemorate D-Day, but none so much as the recording of Franklin D Roosevelt's prayer. I have transcribed part of it below, but you can listen to the complete version on RUSC.
Franklin Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer
6th June, 1944
Here is the text of the speech which was broadcast across the United States on the day that became known as D-Day in 1944.
"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...
I hope you will join myself and Joy, by taking a moment to remember not only those who lost their lives on June 6, 1944, but also those who lived through the horror and bravely continued to fight for the freedom we enjoy today.
