Honoring our Fallen Soldiers - FDR's D-Day Prayer

Let's take time to remember all men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

And we thank those who fought the battle and were blessed to come home to tell the story of those who did not survive.

Calvin C. Boykin, Jr. - Gare La Bete

A History of the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion

1942-1945

(my father)

IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND THOSE WHO LIVED TO TELL THE STORY:

FDR’s full D-Day prayer, offered on June 6, 1944, reads as follows:

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.

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 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 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 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 of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.
 
 

Dorothy's Curry Shrimp Salad

Dorothy's Curry Shrimp Salad

It just seemed like a shrimp salad kind of day.

My mother-in-law, Dorothy, had the best recipe.

 Mix and chill:  

3 boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
1 c. mayonnaise or less
1/2 tsp. curry powder
2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce

... Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or so

In the meantime, prepare:

2 lbs. cooked, peeled large shrimp
...Chop the shrimp into chunky pieces... not small. Place in a medium bowl and sprinkle with some fresh lime or lemon juice

Add a tiny bit of sea salt
A few "grinds" of black pepper
Mince 2 tbsp. of green onion
1/2 c. or more chopped celery

Mix together: shrimp, seasoned mayonnaise and boiled eggs. Cover and chill. Serve on top of a bed of lettuce.

 

Dorothy Peterson

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This Tuesday I'll be linking to

You'll find me here with Cole

http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/

AND

Come see Grace at

http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/

AND

Come see Miz Helen

Contry Cottage

http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/

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I want to thank everyone who read my post about my nephew's wife, April, and offered prayers for the husband and three children she left behind. She passed away May 15th at the age of 39 years. We'll miss April always, but God always has a plan for each of us.

Life is too short!

I'm going to take a brief hiatus to regroup a bit.

My nephew's wife passed away yesterday.

There is a need for me to reflect on what has happened

and find a way that I can dedicate some efforts in

April's memory.

April was in a coma for nearly two weeks due to extremely

high fever. On Mother's Day the children bought their favorite flowers and made a bouquet for their mother.

On the way home from the hospital the oldest boy

texted his mother's cell phone,

"Thanks for being the best... have a good trip!"

He is twelve years old.

I want to take time to reflect on what I do with my time

... and what I do not do.

Life is short...

Sometimes too short.

Sunflowers and Special Friends

Miles and miles...

Acres and acres

of

Sunflowers!!

My farmer-husband estimates that we saw

about 300 acres of these beautiful flowers

that just make a person want to smile.

McCook. Texas 

These beautiful sunflowers remind me of

my two dear friends...

Laura (White Spray Paint)

and

Nancy (Nancy's Notes)

The top left photo is a sunflower (I think but it looks like one to me!) grown by Laura in her flower garden.

The bottom left is from a center piece Nancy created.

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Linking to Little Red House for

Mosaic Monday

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Bronze Baby Shoes - A Keepsake from the Past

I recently posted this photograph of my mother standing

to the right of her mother and little sister.

I love their hairstyles... the "Dutch Boy Haircut" the girls are

sporting and then my grandmother's waves probably

fashioned with metal banana clips.

I especially like the shoes!

 

The bronzed shoes were my mother's.

That's a baby picture of her when she was five months old. 

Bronzing shoes and making bookends with them

was very popular.

 

Just a little something from the past.

Visit these two wonderful blogs

for some fabulous photos and posts.

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http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

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http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/