FPP: MILITARY PRAYER ARCHIVE
Excerpt: Prayer and American Military History in battles great and small are inseparable in that prayer has been used to foster a sense of honor, loyalty and devotion to duty in service to God and Country… All of whom speak with a single voice confirming that prayer to Almighty God for his provision and protection is a vital national security interest for the United States Armed Forces.
Excerpt: From 1774 to the present, more than 67 Armed Forces Prayer Books have been widely and officially distributed to our fighting forces, intended to be a source of strength and encouragement in the stresses of war, to officers and soldiers of all ranks, from the American War for Independence to the “War on Terror.”
Excerpt: Today we honor our nation’s heritage and the tradition started by our founding fathers, through seeking the Almighty Father and His will for this country and its leaders. After all, public prayer should be a natural act for a nation whose official motto is “In God We Trust”, and should encompass all levels of society, government, military and business.
December 17, 2007 Excerpt: In Confidence in Battle, Inspiration in Peace, officially published by the Office of the U.S. Military Chaplain (1977) General MacArthur’s liberation of Korea’s capitol is recorded. General Douglas MacArthur spoke from his training and belief that the spiritual condition of the nation determines the outcome of wars…
July 11, 2007 Excerpt: America is currently in public distress because of the War on Terrorism at home and abroad, and stunningly since 9/11 the ACLU and its allies in and outside of government have escalated a relentless and unprecedented attack on prayer in our military, our service academies, our government, and public institutions… First Principles has issued a wake-up call by defining and explaining the real meaning of historic Christian Prayer in our Armed Forces, and why Christians must contend for the truth in this desperate hour.
January 8, 2007 Excerpt: World War II has numerous examples of a nation at prayer. Perhaps the most famous instance of prayer in the troops was a circulated prayer by General George Patton in December, 1942.
January 2, 2007 Excerpt: The NAF and CAV Addendum presents proofs drawn from American history; organic utterances, official acts, testimonials and the prayers of America’s Commanders-in-Chief and preeminent combat leaders to reconfirm to the Court that American military leadership considers prayer a military necessity from our founding to this present grave hour.
Thanksgiving, 2006 Excerpt: On November 9, 2005, Senator James M. Inhoff (R-OK) rose to speak on the Senate floor in support of an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act of 2006, the legislation that funds and directs the military each year, to provide for daily prayers at American Service Academies or prayer at any appropriate Academy functions. The vote yielded was unanimously in support (99-0) of securing the freedom to pray at the Service Academies.
April 26, 2004 Excerpt: From VMI’s first superintendent…to its more recent famous graduate…to the supper prayer invocations, prayer has been offered on behalf of the nation, the family and the corps for the blessing of Divine Providence. Neither the supreme Court nor common sense can challenge the historical precedent that has sustained soldiers on the battlefield through every war in American history.
July 13, 2002 Excerpt: Public and private prayer is primary to the Armed Forces, particularly in dealing with the human aspects of war, a time of “national peril,” for which every cadet at Virginia Military Institute is prepared, according to its mission. Beyond the rigorous physical, mental, and tactical preparations, VMI cadets, just as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, face intangibles: danger, fear, exhaustion, deprivation, etc. VMI cadets, in the fashion of military leaders, throughout American history, petition the favor of Almighty God at the supper prayer, for the nation, family, and personal need.
