PRAYER:
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR
WILLIAM LEFTWICH,
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

FEBRUARY 23, 1995
Derksen BurLornc, CHICAGO

JOHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
FourTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Cuicaco, ILLINOIS

ALMIGHTY AND ETERNAL GOD, YOU ARE THE CREATOR OF US ALL, THE LoRD
OF ALL - ALL TIME, ALL NATIONS, ALL PEOPLE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
OUR NATION, FOR ITS HISTORY, FOR ITS STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE, TO DEFEND RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ITS
CITIZENS. WE REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE THOSE WHO LED US IN THE PAST,
WHOSE COURAGE AND VISION AND FAITH INSPIRED OTHERS TO VALUE
ENDEPENDENCE, FREEDOM, UNTON.

WE REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE. THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FIFTY. YEARS
AGO SERVING COUNTRY. AND WE REMEMBER WITH DEEP GRATITUDE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES TODAY, STATIONED AROUND THE
WORLD IN LONELY AND DANGEROUS OUTPOSTS. :

We REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, PRAY YOUR
BLESSINGS ON PRESIDENT CLINTON AND ALL WHO SERVE IN GOVERNMENT.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE AND WITNESS OF BILL LEFTWICH AND ASK YOUR
BLESSING ON HIM AND ON MAXINE AND ALL THEIR LOVED ONES. GIVE HIM
COURAGE, AND VISION FOR HIS TASK ~- WHICH REFLECTS THIS NATION'S
HIGHEST AND HOLIEST ASPIRATIONS. GIVE HIM STAMINA AND STRENGTH FOR
ROUTINE TASKS AND MAKE HIM, IN ALL THINGS, WORTHY OF THE HIGH TRUST
WHICH NOW IS HIS. AND, 0 Gop, GIVE HIM A SENSE OF A JOB WELL. DONE,
AND PEACE, AT THE END OF THE DAY.

Now BLESS US ALL, GIVING US THE GIFTS WE NEED TO SERVE You AND OUR
NEIGHBORS, WITH FATTHFULNESS AND ENERGY AND INTELLIGENCE, AND
IMAGINATION, ALL OUR DAYS.

AMEN.