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Memorial Day Prayer 2017 at American Legion Griswold Post 79, Madison, CT - Pastor Greg Scalzo

Invocation delivered at the Madison, CT Memorial Day Ceremony at The American Legion Griswold Post 79

Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father,
we praise You and we thank You for this country and this
beautiful land which You have provided,
Where people, from every nation and language, have come
and have enjoyed such a degree of freedom and prosperity
as was previously unknown in human history.

And today we remember and give You thanks for those men
and women who, in defense of this precious land, made great
sacrifice for freedom’s victory.
Today, especially we remember that our nation’s safety and
protection does not come without cost, and we thank You for
those defenders who gave completely of themselves, who gave
their very lives, so that we could assemble here, a free
people whose children enjoy the blessings of liberty.
These American warriors marched out not for conquest or
for personal gain, like so many armies in history;
Rather they marched, they sailed, they flew—they bled, they
died—because they loved their country, they loved their
families back home, and, yes many, desired to do that which
was right and proper in Your sight.

So today, Father, we pray, that even while we celebrate,
even while families and friends gather for a joyous time—and
that joy is not wrong, because Your Word says, “The joy of
the Lord is my strength” and we find strength in these
times of community and family—but we pray Father that even
while we enjoy the day, that underneath, with all of our
hearts, we would understand the seriousness of this Memorial,
that we would appreciate the sacredness of what was given
for us, and hold dear the precious lives lost and pain
suffered; that we would take a moment to tell the next
generation, the children and the children’s children, about
the great sadness that has purchased this joy and way of
life which we too often take for granted. May we remember
those lost lives and be grateful every day of every year.

Dear God, today our nation is confronted with many dangers
and our armed forces face determined enemies. In times
past, in times of national crisis and war, our forefathers
and foremothers gathered in churches and synagogues to seek
Your mercy and protection. With contrite hearts they
rededicated their lives to You, revived their commitment to
that which was right in Your eyes, and asked You to be with
our troops in the field of battle. May we be such a people
today. I ask this as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.


© 2017 Gregory J. Scalzo