They sit around the table
going back in time
to the years when they were able
when the bells of youth did chime.
They recall that tragic day
it's as if they were in hell
not knowing who would die
or who would live to tell.
It was the sixth hour 
of the sixth day of 1944
it's the day they will remember
in their hearts forever more.
The men were given a warning
of the German's and their power,
but they were reminded of the blessings
of Almighty God by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Let's go back to Normandy
and the memories of that day,
when red with blood was the color of the sea
where good men with theirs lives had to pay.
One hundred seventy-five thousand men 
stormed the beach in Northern France we're told
this was the largest seaborne invasion in history
it was Operation Overload.
On August 15, 1944 
250,000 Allied Soldiers stormed France's Mediterranean Shore
catching the German Troops causing them strife
and in return giving Hitler the darkest day of his life.
Yet, no matter what the outcome
you never questioned why
holding on to each other
while Old Glory waved up high.
This honor that we pay to you 
regardless of color, creed or race,
know that it's sincere and true
with a blanket of God's grace.

ACTS 20:24
²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.

Mary Deases Peralez © 17 May 2004.
You may email Mary to thank her for the
use of her poetry. Thank you Mary for
this heart felt poem. God Bless
 you my Sister-In-Christ.





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 violence's 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 goodwill 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 where so ever 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 arrogances. 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 scheming's 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.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944