Veterans Day: Honoring Those Who Served

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Veterans Day: Honoring Those Who Served

Posted on November 04, 2021 in: Reflections

Veterans Day: Honoring Those Who Served

The Return

“The Return,” an emotional depiction of a World War I soldier kneeling before a crucifix inside the Church of the Holy Innocents on West 37th and Broadway in lower Manhattan built in 1866. Both the crucifix and the church are still in place today.

God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation and have laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom.
We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war,
whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day.
We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm’s way.
Shield them from danger and bring them home.
Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.
May the peace you left us, the peace you gave us, be the peace that sustains, the peace that saves us.
Amen.

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As November brings us closer to Veterans Day, it offers a poignant reminder of the men and women who have answered the call to serve— a call that demanded courage, resilience, and sacrifice. Veterans Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a sacred invitation to pause, to honor, and to reflect deeply on the lives of those who chose duty over self, who placed neighbor and nation above their own comforts, safety, and often, above their own dreams. In our Catholic faith, we hold dear the teaching that every human life has inherent dignity and worth. Thi...

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