Eternal Father

Thursday we went to Ft. Lewis to attend Nathan's Battalion's Casing Ceremony. The Battalion's flag was wrapped and covered and will remain cased until the Battalion returns to the States.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidst the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Christ, the Lord of hill and plain,
O'er which our traffic runs amain,
By mountain pass or valley low,
Wherever Lord our brethren go,
Protect them by Thy guarding hand
From every peril on the land!


O Spirit Whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament,
O Wind of Heaven, by Thy might
Save all who dare the eagle's flight,
And keep them by Thy watchful care
From every peril in the air!


O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go.
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad praise from air, and land, and sea!


~William Whiting
 

I know this is traditionally the Navy Hymn but it's the one I think about the most when I think about Nathan (or any of our country's young people) going into danger in a war zone.
 

He had the rest of the day off so we took him to Applebees for burgers for lunch.