Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

President Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

1. President Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer Marker

Inscription.

President Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer. . , Franklin Roosevelt led the nation in this prayer by radio, June 6, 1944:, 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, out sons will triumph. They will be sore 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., For these men are lately drawn from the ways o 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 the battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, father, and receive them, They heroic servants, into Thy kingdom., And for us at home - fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brace 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., An, 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. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure 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. Amen., The Patriarch Militants Department Council and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Virginia dedicate this plaque and posthumously award the decoration of chivalry to the "Bedford Boys" in recognition of their extraordinary valor, fidelity, and sacrifice. Dedicated D-Day, 6 June 2018.

Franklin Roosevelt led the nation in this prayer by radio, June 6, 1944:

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, out sons will triumph. They will be sore 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.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways o 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 the battle,

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for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, father, and receive them, They heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home - fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brace 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.

An, 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. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure 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. Amen.

The Patriarch Militants Department Council and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Virginia dedicate this plaque and posthumously award the decoration of chivalry to the "Bedford Boys" in recognition of their extraordinary valor, fidelity, and sacrifice. Dedicated D-Day, 6 June 2018.

Erected 2018

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

2. President Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer Marker

Marker is on the far right.

by National D-Day Memorial.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, World II.

Location. 37° 19.852′ N, 79° 32.158′ W. Memorial is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It can be reached from Overlord Circle, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located at the National D-Day Memorial. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Military Police (MP) Platoons (here, next to this marker); 238th Engineer Combat Battalion (here, next

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to this marker); 320th Anti-Aircraft Balloon Battalion (here, next to this marker); The Glider Pilot Regiment (here, next to this marker); First Infantry Division (here, next to this marker); Fifth Ranger Battalion (here, next to this marker); Elmon T. Gray Plaza (here, next to this marker); The United States Marines in the European Theater (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . . Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Prayer on D-Day. (Submitted on July 26, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 26, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.