Prayers for Veterans Day
Blessing for a Veteran, Thanksgiving for Military Service, and More
Veterans Day, which falls on November 11 in the United States, is a time to honor the men and women who have served in the armed services of the United States.
The following Christian prayers — blessing for veterans and those in the armed services, prayer to honor the dead, thanksgiving for a veteran, and litany for veterans of all wars — invite God to honor and bless all veterans.
Blessing for Veterans and those in the Armed Services
Veterans who have served to protect their countries bear the wounds of their sacrifices every day. The following prayer asks God to heal, comfort, and protect all veterans and those who currently serve:
“God of power and might, thank you for the service of men and women who protect the United States now and who have served in the past. Bless them and their families, strengthen and encourage them, and let them know that they have not served in vain. Amen.”
This prayer might be offered in honor of a veteran or someone serving in the armed services. One might insert the names of particular service members into the prayer.
This prayer may also be offered at a family dinner after the grace or other time around Veteran’s Day with a veteran or service member present to honor him/her.
Prayer to Honor the Dead on Veteran’s Day
Millions of service members have died in times of war. The following prayers ask God to never forget their loss:
“God of life and death, thank you for the sacrifice of so many for the safety of our country [insert specific soldiers lost, if desired]. May we continue to honor our veterans and their service for many years to come, and never let them be forgotten. Amen.”
This prayer may be offered at a grave site of a veteran or while standing beside a veteran’s memorial..
Thanksgiving for a Veteran’s Life
Veterans Day is not just about ceremonies to honor veterans. If one happens to know a veteran or service member, Veterans Day is a perfect time to say thank you with a card, present, family dinner, or other event to mark his/her valiant service.
The following prayer offers thanks for a particular veteran’s service on Veterans Day:
“God, thank you for [insert specific veteran’s name] and for his/her service to our country. You know, O Lord, how much he/she has given up to serve, and please let that sacrifice not be in vain. Let us celebrate [insert veteran’s name] and all those who have served this day to the honor and glory of Your name. Amen.”
A Christian might offer this prayer right before a dinner or other gathering to honor a veteran. Those present may share favorite stories or memories of the veteran, and the veteran may be invited to share stories from serving, if he/she is comfortable doing so.
Litany for Veterans of Specific Wars
Recent United States history is full of wars abroad, where many veterans and armed service members have served and continue to serve. The following litany offers an opportunity to honor living veterans of specific, recent wars:
A litany is a repeated prayer on a theme. The following litany honors all veterans of recent wars and offers opportunity to name them, pause, and ask for God blessing upon them:
“God, thank you for veterans of all American conflicts who are still alive and for their families. / Bless veterans of World War II [insert specific names, if desired]. / Lord, have mercy. / Bless veterans of the Korean War [insert specific names, if desired]. / Lord, have mercy. / Bless veterans of the Vietnam War [insert specific names, if desired]. / Lord, have mercy. / Bless veterans of the Gulf Wars [insert specific names, if desired] / Lord, have mercy. / Bless veterans of Afghanistan and Pakistan [insert specific names, if desired]. / Lord, have mercy. / Bless veterans of [insert other specific conflicts or regions, if desired]. / Without their sacrifice, we would not be.
"May the light of Your love continue to shine in the lives of all United States Armed Services veterans, that they might heal in body, mind, and spirit and know that others’ remember them this Veteran’s Day. Lord, have mercy. Amen.”
This litany may be shared as part of a family or group ceremony to honor Veterans Day, at a grave site or elsewhere. The litany may be divided into parts, if desired, with a leader saying the specific blessings, and the group responding with, “Lord, have mercy.”
Veterans Day is a national holiday to honor veterans past and present. With prayer, Christians invite God to honor and celebrate veterans and their service, too.
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