Prayer for Veterans Day

I offered the following on November 11th, 2010 in the National City Christian Church as a part of the Truth Commission on Conscience in War's Interfaith Service to Honor Conscience and Heal Moral Injury and the official release of the TCCW Report.  Rev. James Forbes preached immediately following this prayer:

Before the U.S. memorialized its veterans, before the world solemnized Armistice, the Church celebrated a conscientious objector.  November 11th is the feast day for Martin of Tours in the Roman Catholic Church, who to this day is the patron Saint of soldiers.  Today, approximately 18 veterans will succumb to the dark abyss of suicide, unseen casualties of the wars in which they served.  It should come as no surprise, then, that Martin's prayer is one for perseverance.  His is the prayer of all veterans today;Lord, if your people still have need of our services, we will not avoid the toil.  Your Will be done. We have fought the good fight long enough.  Yet if You bid us continue to hold the battle line in defense of Your camp, we will never beg to be excused from failing strength. We will do the work You entrust to us. You alone are our Commander, we will fight beneath Your banner.