At a time in the life of our nation when there appears to be a real lack of positive and aggressive leadership from our leader in Washington, I found this prayer by President Franklin Roosevelt on announcing the D-Day invasion. He asked the nation to join him in the prayer.

This week, June 6, is the 70th anniversary of the landing at Normandy.

I include it here in appreciation for what Roosevelt provided for our nation in times of trouble — leadership.

“Almighty God: Ours 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.

"Thy will be done, Almighty God.

"Amen.”

Thank God for a leader, such as Roosevelt, who knew where to turn when we as a country were doing all we could. The battle that brought forth this prayer was the battle that really turned the tide of that awful war. Thank you, Mr. President Roosevelt, for leading us to the place of knowing that God is always in control.

Information from Veterans Park is that one Effingham man, Leland Glover, lost his life off the shore of the invasion when his landing craft hit a land mine. He was in the Navy.

LeLand Glover of Effingham County, lost his life off the shore of Normandy during the invasion. Others lost their life in later landings: John Arnsdorff, Ralph Helmy Lewis Boyles Jr., Herbert Ray Fetzer.

Chriss Allen Jr. was lost when his ship was torpedoed in the last days of the war. William “Bevo” Webb died in Italy in the last days of the war. Others who were killed in World War II include, Lawrence A. Adams, James R. Jackson, William A. Ricks, and James Robert Smith.