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MAGNOLIA BOYS’ TOWN

LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI U.S.A.

HELPING BOYS IS OUR BUSINESS

PRAYER BY DR.(REV) HENRY BUCKLEW

accorded to Dr. (Rev) Henry Bucklew, Founder and Director of Magnolia Boys' Town and National Chaplain of the 1,300,000 member Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization, by being asked personally by the Hon. John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States Congress in Washington, on Monday, May 24, 1965, to give a special prayer to this Body of Congress. Dr. Bucklew was also made Chaplain of the House for the day and by a special motion by the Hon. Bill Colmer, ranking member of the Delegation from Mississippi, the prayer and full introduction was printed into the widely circulated Congressional Record printed on the 24th of May 1965.

PRAYER BY DR. (Rev) HENRY BUCKLEW

NATIONAL CHAPLAIN V.F.W. U.S.A. (1965)

Laurel, Mississippi

BEFORE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 24, 1965

Almighty God and Our Heavenly Father:

Thank You for permitting us to be born and live at this unique time in American History. You made the Heavens, Earth, and our hearts. You know the function of each, so we offer thanks that You have not neglected us as we often do You. We stand in need now for so many things You have told us to ask, so here's our request.

We need answers to many of life's complex problems and questions. We don't even know all the questions, let alone the answers. You know both.

This Honored Body especially needs daily divine guidance, making decisions affecting millions, yes, even the whole world. Make them know the opportunities for good are unlimited and their power to do harm is unequaled. Helping all of us to be able to overcome temptations, and never put a price tag on principles.

May our number one concern be to do the most good for the masses and protect the individual rights of every citizen.

We remember our president in this solemn moment. May we pray for him more than we criticize. Give him and his family physical, mental and spiritual strength and courage to meet every challenge of the most powerful office in the world. He is a failure without You, so help him daily, we earnestly pray.

May this Body have assurance they have millions of loyal faithful guards in the V.F.W. and other Veterans Organizations helping support their every act to offer freedom and hope to the enslaved around the world. Help us meet the acid test in peace time as we met the test with tears, blood and lives during the hot wars.

Realizing our great country does not owe Veterans a living but also realizing what ever type of life we have, we certainly owe to all Veterans. We want to be patriotic in peace time and jealous of those freedoms we have left. We want God put back in first place in America.

Thank You for our 1,300,000 members of the V.F.W. We hallow the memory of our War Dead and remember thousands now existing in our Veterans Hospitals, known to us as the Living Dead - war casualties - grim reminders of the horrors of war. We are deeply grateful there are no atheists or communist in our great organization - all 100% American.

Help us continue our goals to conquer outer space but never let up on our dream of learning to live in peace with all mankind on earth.

Those in whom we have the least confidence, help us to love and pray for them the most. Make this truly be the great society because the true God is honored, reverenced, worshipped and obeyed.

Never permit any person to divide us or stir up hate - may such efforts always fail completely. When it comes to loyalty to our Flag and Defense of our Great Nation we want to forget directions - North, South, East or West, remembering we are the United States.

Spare the lives of these wise, trusted Statesmen until new qualified, dedicated replacements can be found. When that hour comes for us to answer that final Roll Call let us depart with contented conscience that we did more good for our fellowman than harm, we helped more people than we hurt, we built more than we destroyed, we lifted more friends upward than we caused to stumble.

You know how hard it is for us at times to know right from wrong, good from evil, truth from falsehood. Please help us to know the difference and have the courage to follow always Your safe example.

Help us not sin against You or society.

Continue to bless my beloved home State of Mississippi as all other of our great States, and continue Your loving favor on us. Help us solve every problem we are forced to face. If we think and act little, forgive us. When others falsely judge, let us not return evil for evil.

Help us all to look more to You for help and less to Washington. Bless this City, Seat of Government, center of culture, but known also for shocking crimes and sin.

Above every prayer request, we beg for peace to come and reign where are the Sun doeth it's successive journey run and may there never be another person eligible to belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In Christ Name, Amen