This is apparently a myth. See
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/memorial.asp; among other
things, it includes what appears to be a photo of the inscription, which
actually quotes a different line from the speech -- a line that's not
followed by "so help us God."
Eugene
________________________________
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gibbens, Daniel
G.
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 9:49 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ucla. edu
Subject: An email of possible relevance
SHALL WE HIRE A MONUMENT ENGRAVER TO GO TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
AND ADD THE MISSING WORDS ?
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 abounding 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!
Free Animations for your email - By
IncrediMail! Click Here!
<http://www.incredimail.com/index.asp?id=102287&rui=83657392>
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