Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff
Chaplain, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Washington, DC
Date of Prayer: 10/23/2020
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Almighty God, we pray, reflect in different ways but together mourn our dead and tell their stories to keep their memories alive.
Thirty–seven years ago today, I was in Beirut when a terrorist truck–bomb attack took the lives of 241 U.S. military personnel. Fifty–eight French troops died a heartbeat later: a second truck, another deadly blast.
They came in peace. They risked their lives to buy some time for change. Peace did not prevail, but their risk, their sacrifice must be honored and remembered. Their story must be told.
Today, as we recall and honor Beirut dead and Beirut vets in a special way, we mourn all those we have lost to war, to hatred, and disease as well.
Lord, may we heed Your call: together, to choose life––to work for, fight for life: a better life for those who one day will remember us.
And may we say amen.
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