"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL"

Eternal Father,

We offer prayer in thanks and ask that you bless all our shipmates for their comradeship, their loyalty, their courage, their devotion and their dedication to our ideals. We ask that you protect all those who strive to save our freedoms and preserve our commitment to serve and defend.

We give thanks that you in your mercy have brought us to safe harbor and peace. We ask your blessing and protection for those who travel on and under the tempestuous seas and ask that you bring them home safely to their loved ones.

We pray that the blessings of peace be ours, the peace to build and grow and live in harmony and sympathy with others, and to plan for the future with confidence. We pray that strength and courage be granted to all who work for a world of reason and understanding

Almighty Father, hold in your hand all who have departed this life in thy faith and grant a special blessing on those who have made for us the supreme sacrifice.

Hear this prayer from our hearts as we ask thee to bless the United States of America — keep it always the home of the brave and the land of the free.

Bestow your blessings on us; grant to us the wisdom accept your gifts with humility. And finally Almighty Father, we pray that you will grant us grace that we may always honor thee and be faithful stewards of thy bounty.

Amen