|
Father Duffy Square
|
Nov 12, 2011 12:43 pm
909 Views
|
The Army National Guard unit in New York City is designated the 69th Infantry Regiment. It is more famously known as "the Fighting 69th."
Yesterday I watched a ceremony carried out by members of the Fighting 69th in deference to Veterans' Day. They laid wreaths at the foot of the statue of the famous chaplain of that unit, Father Francis Duffy.
Father Duffy saw the worst fighting in the American sector during World War I. In 17 months of war, America suffered over 80,000 combat deaths. At the armistice Chaplain Duffy gave the following prayer.
O Heavenly Father.
Here I beseech you the prayers of this, America's lost generation.
They loved life too O Lord.
It was as sweet to them as of the living today.
They accepted privation, wounds and death, that an ideal may live.
Don't let it be forgotten Father amid turmoil and angry passions, and when all worthwhile things seem swept away.
Let the tired eyes of a troubled world rise up, and see the shining citadel of which these young lads form the imperishable stones.
America, the citadel of peace.
This I beg of you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
|
|
|
4
Comments
|
|
