Veterans Day Prayer at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, Chaplain, USN (Ret.)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=34213

Date: 2020-11-11

Last Updated: 2024-06-01

Categories: Veterans Day

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, prayers of military chaplains, United States

Excerpt: This Veterans Day Prayer was first published by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, Chaplain, USN (Retired), on his twitter page. He writes, "Because of COVID this is the first Veterans Day in a long time I am not part of a ceremony — and I know that’s the situation for many fellow vets. So I wrote it yesterday to share today as a virtual prayer for Veterans Day 2020." On 11 November 2022, Rabbi Resnicoff offered the expanded revision of this prayer as offered above at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Almighty God, We pray, reflect, meditate in different ways, But today, together, honor our brave, our heroes, The veterans of what must remain a grateful nation.
	On this date, in 1918, 11th day, 11th month, 11th hour of the day, We signed the Armistice to end the First World War “The war to end all wars,”[1] A term originating from a series of articles by H.G. Wells published in 1914, referring to what eventually came to be known as the First World War of 1914–1918. Find “The War to End War” (Wikipedia).  we prayed.
	But other wars would follow, many more would serve, So Armistice Day, renamed, reborn — now Veterans Day,[2] Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 at the behest of a number of US Veterans organizations.   Salutes all those who served, who answered duty’s call.
	We pledged to honor those who honored us Through sacrifice and service, But too many times we failed, Too many times we broke faith with those who served, We broke faith with those who died.
	40 years ago we built this wall This wall of memory, this wall of healing, To remember lives we lost in Vietnam, But more than that: To remember vows we made, and debts we owe To all veterans, their families, to those who serve today.
	We ask forgiveness from those we’ve failed in the past, And renew our solemn vow to welcome home — truly welcome home — all those who served, With grateful words and caring hearts, And every action we can take, every dollar we can spend. Knowing far too well our debts can never be repaid in full, And some wounds of war will never truly heal.
	May we remember, as has been said, We’re the land of the free only so long as we are the home of the brave, And we must forever thank the brave who keep us free.
	Grant us faith to keep our dreams alive That thanks to those we honor here today At this wall of healing and of hope — This safe space that became for us a sacred space — One day we’ll beat our swords to ploughshares And war will be no more.[3] Cf. Isaiah 2:4.   And let us say Amen.

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This Veterans Day Prayer was first published by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, Chaplain, USN (Retired), on his twitter page. He writes, “Because of COVID this is the first Veterans Day in a long time I am not part of a ceremony — and I know that’s the situation for many fellow vets. So I wrote it yesterday to share today as a virtual prayer for Veterans Day 2020.” On 11 November 2022, Rabbi Resnicoff offered the expanded revision of this prayer as offered above at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.

Recordings

 

Source(s)

Veterans Day prayer (Arnold Resnicoff 2020)

Veterans Day prayer (Arnold Resnicoff 2022)

 

Notes[+]

Notes

1	A term originating from a series of articles by H.G. Wells published in 1914, referring to what eventually came to be known as the First World War of 1914–1918. Find “The War to End War” (Wikipedia).
2	Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 at the behest of a number of US Veterans organizations.
3	Cf. Isaiah 2:4.

Contributor: Arnold E. Resnicoff

Co-authors:

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  Name: Arnold E. Resnicoff
  Bio: Arnold E. Resnicoff (born 1946) is a Conservative rabbi who began his career serving as a military officer and then as a military chaplain. He served in Vietnam and Europe before attending rabbinical school after which he was a U.S. Navy Chaplain for almost 25 years. After the Vietnam War, he promoted the creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and delivered the closing prayer at its 1982 dedication. Rabbi Resnicoff was present at the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and the following year, President Ronald Reagan shared Rabbi Resnicoff's eyewitness account. After retiring from the military he became the National Director of Interreligious Affairs for the American Jewish Committee and served as Special Assistant (for Values and Vision) to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, serving at the equivalent military rank of Brigadier General. Resnicoff holds several degrees, including an honorary doctorate. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, and the Chapel of Four Chaplains Hall of Heroes Gold Medallion.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Resnicoff
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/arnold-resnicoff

Featured Image:

Title: Arnold Resnicoff at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day 2022
Caption: Arnold Resnicoff at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day 2022