Article November 5, 2012 Issue

Prayer that defends our defenders

Beth Schaefer

In the predawn hours,   I can hear the shouts of servicemen and women as they go through their exercises on the Army base nearby. Every day I am reminded of the efforts and sacrifices made by the military in the defense of our country and of the support they give to others around the world. Every morning I wake up to “Reveille,” and every evening I hear “Taps” echoing through the neighborhood.

My hometown of San Antonio, Texas, which is affectionately known as “Military City, USA,” is host to several military installations. Many of my neighbors are retired or active military personnel—chaplains, colonels, and many others—and I’ve come to value even more the significant contributions they and their families have made. 

Veterans are honored on November 11 each year in the United States, Britain, Canada, and other countries. For some, it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on that day—a perfect opportunity for prayer in defense of our defenders. When I think back to the origins of this tradition—it’s the day the guns on the Western Front in Europe fell silent with the signing of the armistice ending World War I—there is ample cause for gratitude, which is a strong basis for prayer. 