I love Veterans Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Those days have meaning to me because my father and his brothers fought in World War 2, and I’ve lost close friends and classmates to war, particularly the conflict in Vietnam.
War and its residual are tragic..ugly….and it rages on even now as I write. Young men and women, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and children. There are casualties, including the dead, wounded and their families. This while we go on about our business, mostly numb to the reality.
The following lyric is set to the hymn tune of “Eternal Father Strong To Save”. It’s my attempt to articulate the feelings I feel on these national celebrations of recollection and gratitude.
PRAYER OF OUR REMEMBRANCE
O Lord let all who gather here
Give thanks for freedoms we hold dear
mRemembering the bravest ones
Though fighting fears their courage won
A prayer of our remembrance now
O God sustain them by your power
Now what is left when war is done?
Do joy or tears remain unsung
Would mother’s sacrifice and grief
Be blessings carelessly received
A prayer of our remembrance now
O God sustain us by your power
The lamp of light, eternal flame
Illuminates
Their honored ways
Steel guardians all who gave their best
Lord guide these heroes home to rest
A prayer of our remembrance now
O God sustain them by your power
O fount of mercy
Heavenly One
Teach us to wield Your boundless love
Restore our nation in this hour
May ways of peace
Our hearts devour
A prayer of our remembrance now
O God sustain us by your power
O God sustain us by your power
Amen
The Human Wave 
Ohhh “wield Your boundless love…” very very nicely put.
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Blessings…Happy 2020 to you dear friend!!! 😍
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I look forward to the day this is included in a hymnal (or today’s equivalent: big screens in church).
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