Today, the day before the 65th anniversary of D-Day I am pondering how different we are from those Americans facing an uncertain future in 1944.

As FDR gave his prayer to the nation over the airwaves, families of servicemen prayed too, hoping to be reunited with their soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines; hoping that they would return and not be broken by their experience, their wounds, or the loss of their fellow patriots. The entire nation had sacrificed and continued to sacrifice in a way that touched every single family.

Fast forward to 2009. The US is a very different place where unity is shunned for diversity and national pride takes second place to the global economy. A relatively few number of families in this nation have sacrificed for the War on Terror. The sacrifice has touched probably less than 1% of the US population. The nation as a whole does not even recognize the sacrifices our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents had to make in order to ensure the American way of life could be as rich, as vibrant, and as inspiring as it is. And sadly, most of the nation does not even share the pride with which those previous generations gave up their sons, the pride of their family, and the little luxuries of life we take for granted every day. The US is a very different place.

But pride still resides in the US; pride in the best of the best, pride in the young men and women still willing to take a stand, to leave families behind, and to take on a task greater than themselves. Some, like my son Rhys, will make the ultimate sacrifice, giving up their lives so that someone here at home won’t have to. Although young in terms of a modern lifespan, they are able to recognize that America fights for what is right and good, while removing terror and injustice that keeps people enslaved. Our sons and daughters are big picture people. They are able to see far beyond themselves into a bright future for people everywhere.

I pray today as FDR did so long ago that our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines will be “lead straight and true: and that God will “give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts steadfastness in their faith.” We are not so very different today. Let us support the “pride of our nation” in whatever way we can, today and every day. Our sons and daughters deserve nothing less.

To you special military families and precious Gold Star families who have made the ultimate sacrifice, God Bless you.
Lynn
Below is FDR’s prayer to the nation on D-Day, 1944.

My Fellow Americans:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
Franklin D. Roosevelt – June 6, 1944

Two years have passed since Rhys was called home.  I often wonder how God could train him for his new position in Heaven so quickly!  I’m still in the “training program.”  Rhys always was a quick study.  Some things, I guess most things really, about Rhys are so vivid in my mind and yet I am often fearful that I will somehow forget my son.  It is totally illogical.  Really what mother would ever forget her child.  And yet,  the thought creeps in anyway.  But then, Rhys’ friends and all of our prayer warriors call, send messages, make posts, etc. just to let Michael and I know that they are thinking of us.  How awesome.  It is then that I realize I will never forget.  I am so thankful that God could use Rhys to impact so many, his Dad and I most of all.  And, I am thankful for all of the people who have become our close friends  since Rhys was killed.  I am thankful for every single mother and father who has a soldier currently serving in our military.  I am thankful that we belong to a cadre of parents who have raised amazing and special children that grew into even more amazing men and women.

This has been a journey that will continue until we meet Rhys again in Heaven.  Michael and I hope of course that the time passes quickly because we ache to see our son again.  But, we see bits of him in his amazing daughter who already recognizes pictures of her Daddy even though she never saw him in person.  London has an amazing Mommy and we are blessed that Rhys made the choice he did, even at such a young age.

Time does truly march on, whether or not we want it to.  We often wish to freeze a moment in time for our own selfish reasons.  And yet, God’s plan is to mold us through time into his warriors.  Some of us are slow learners.  Some, like Rhys, catch on very quickly.  Time marches on and we move forward, anxiously anticipating the day when we no longer “see through a glass darkly.”  It will all make sense.

And in these crazy times, I hold on to the promises of God. ” I would have despaired if I had not seen the goodness of the Lord.”  Rhys was that goodness and Michael and I were so blessed to have had him for the short time we did.  We “love you and goodnight, Rhys.”

Welcome, I want to share with you my hero, my son Sgt. Rhys William Klasno of the California Army National Guard, serving with the 1114th TC in Al Asad, Iraq. He was killed on Mother’s Day 5/13/07 when an IED hit his vehicle as he was returning from a mission. He leaves behind his wife Stephanie who was pregnant at the time with their daughter London Eevie who was born July 29, 2007. Rhys was a true American Hero who served with faith, dignity, integrity and all of the other qualities we, as parents, strive to instill in our children. He lived life abundantly in his 20 years and treated each person he spoke with as though they were the most important person in the world.

God’s mission for Rhys here on earth is complete and we look forward to seeing him again. We are so honored to have been entrusted with his care for the time we had. He cared about every man and woman in his unit and placed their safety above his own. We have been honored by Americans everywhere who did not even know our son, by the Patriot Guard who selflessly rode at his funeral, and by friends and fellow soldiers. This was a man who exemplified everything this country stands for. We will continue to support our military’s efforts and our Commander in Chief, as we know all of you do every day. Our son’s honor deserves nothing less.

Thank you for continuing to vocally support our troops and the families who love them.

Faithfully in Christ,

Lynn Klasno