Though I live in Washington, D.C. I’ve not seen every statue and monument, and while walking on the National Mall yesterday, I visited one that recently established (June 6, 2023) and new to me: the Circle of Remembrance next to the World War Two Memorial. In form, it’s a small paved plaza ringed by a low wall, and at the south edge facing the main body of the memorial is a plaque with the prayer President Roosevelt made — and was broadcast — on June 6, 1944 as United States and other Allied forces stormed the Normandy shore.
It was one of those moments when in peril a national leader must fill a particular role: to bear the feelings and fears of the people, and though them lead. Clergy and no small number of lay persons recognize this role, and when it’s missing or (worse) mishandled the sense is a mix of unease and betrayal. FDR did well by his people, and I’ve long been impressed and encouraged by this prayer.
You can read the text here, or listen to a recording of the broadcast: https://archive.org/details/FranklinDRooseveltsPrayer