that a man lay down his life for his friends.
—John 15:13
For the unearned grace we have been given
by our brave troops since 1776, who have secured this land, and
our Constitution, for us and our posterity.
Our honored dead have answered Your call to preserve a nation.
Help us now, we pray,
to preserve it from today's enemies, even on today's unfamiliar battlefields.
We raise the Sword of the Spirit in tribute to our heroes, past and present,
and bow our heads in prayer for the souls of those who gave
the last measure of devotion for our sakes.
In Jesus' Holy Name,
Amen.