A Prayer for Veterans Day

Photo by JIEUN KWON on Unsplash

Note: The opening and closing paragraphs are adapted from the Book of Common Prayer. I wrote this prayer for my intern team in 2021, of whom one was a veteran. The plain-text portions are read by a singular voice, the bold portions are read collectively.

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Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the people of our armed forces at home and abroad. Protect them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be.

For those on active duty, for those on leave, and those in reserve, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For those retired and discharged, whose service is in the past, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

For those who have died in battle or from old wounds suffered in conflict, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

For those who have survived battle, who carry deep scars, seen and unseen, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

For those who suffer the indignities of an unjust society, even after serving to protect it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

For those who find themselves without a support network, who are scorned by their communities, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

For those whose injuries—physical, mental, spiritual—prevent them from living the life they hoped for, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

And now, if there are specific names you want to lift up to God, speak them aloud or silently.

[names may be spoken]

Gracious God, we lift up these people to your care and compassion. May you strengthen them, encourage them, and heal them. 

Eternal God, in whose heavenly country no sword is drawn but the sword of your word, no strength known but the strength of love: spread among all peoples—among us, our neighbors, and our enemies—your Spirit of peace which passes all understanding, that we may one day beat our swords into ploughshares, our spears into pruning hooks, and together sow seeds of righteousness that lead to peace. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.