A MESSAGE FROM AN APPALLED OBSERVER


       Today I went to visit the new World War II Memorial in Washington,
DC.
 I got an unexpected history lesson. Because I'm a baby boomer, I was one of
 the youngest in the crowd. Most were the age of my parents, veterans of
"the
 greatest war", with their families. It was a beautiful day, and people were
 smiling and happy to be there. Hundreds of us milled around the memorial,
 reading the inspiring words of Eisenhower and Truman that are engraved
 there.

         On the Pacific side of the memorial, a group of us gathered to read
 the words President Roosevelt used to announce the attack on Pearl Harbor:

        "Yesterday, December 7, 1941-- a date which will live in infamy--the
 United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked."

        One elderly woman read the words aloud:

        "With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding
 determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph."

        But as she read, she was suddenly turned angry. "Wait a minute," she
 said, "they left out the end of the quote. They left out the most important
 part. Roosevelt ended the message with 'so help us God.'"

         Her husband said, "You are probably right. We're not supposed to
say
 things like that now."

        "I know I'm right," she insisted. "I remember the speech." The two
 looked dismayed, shook their heads sadly and walked away.

         Listening to their conversation, I thought to myself, "Well, it has
 been over 50 years. She's probably forgotten."

        But she had not forgotten. She was right.

        I went home and pulled out the book my book club is reading ---
 "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley. It's all about the battle at Iwo
 Jima. I haven't gotten too far in the book. It's tough to read because it's
 a graphic description of the WWII battles in the Pacific.

        But right there it was on page 58. Roosevelt's speech to the nation
 ends in "so help us God."

        The people who edited out that part of the speech when they engraved
 it on the memorial could have fooled me. I was born after the war. But they
 couldn't fool the people who were there. Roosevelt's words are engraved on
 their hearts.

        Now I ask: "WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE WORDS OF HISTORY?"

        Send this around to your friends. People need to know before
everyone
 forgets. People today are trying to change the history of America by
leaving
 God out of it, but the truth is, God has been a part of this nation, since
 the beginning. He still wants to be...and He always will be!

        If you agree, pass this on. If not, MAY GOD BLESS YOU!