God of peace
We thank our nation’s veterans
For their contributions to the great goal of peace
For the challenging job we ask them to do on our country’s behalf
For the difficult moral space we ask them to enter
For the hardships they endure while they serve
And the pain some carry ever after
We thank our veterans
For what we asked them to give
And what they freely gave
And for what was taken from them.
Today, we offer them
Respect and sympathy
Memory and gratitude
Honor and healing.
And for all of us, we ask, O God of peace, forgiveness
That we are yet unable to make and keep the peace we seek
That our world is again drawn into war and violence
That division still rules our world and our hearts
May the lives of the men and women we honor today
Be counted as steps toward the permanent peace
We pray we may celebrate one day.
Amen.