The Anglican Orthodox Church SM
founder: the most rev. james parker dees, a.b., b.d., d.d. • founded November 16, 1963
2228 Wilkesboro Hwy. • P. O. Box 128 • Statesville, North Carolina 28687- 0128
Telephone 704.873.8365 • Email: aocworldwide@gmail.com • Web: www.aocinternational.org
The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles – Presiding Bishop – Metropolitan
Bishop’s Letter on Remembrance of the Normandy Landing of June 6, 1944
Today, we observe the 80th anniversary of the land, air and sea invasion in the history of the world – Operation Overlord, or the Normandy landing on the coast of France during the Second World War.
More than 200,000 American and allied military personnel participated, at great personal loss in human treasure. It was one of the boldest and bloodiest battles of the century. Those who fought for every inch of the beachhead at Normandy were just regular, everyday young men from all walks of life. They reflected the courage and dedication to liberty prevalent among the entire populations of America and her allies. They were part of what became known as the ‘Last Great Generation.’
Such courage and valor cause us pause to consider the present state of our modern national character. Are we the same Americans who were willing to die rather than submit to tyranny at the posting of our Declaration of Independence in 1776? Would we today lay our all on the altar of liberty? Are we the same Americans whose convictions, on both sides, resulted in the costliest war of our history – the War Between the States? Are we the same Americans who manned the trenches Flanders and the Somme?
How about those more than 200,000 who carried the first wave of the Normandy Invasion under withering artillery and machine-gun fire from the heights overlooking the landing area? More than one million troops made the crossing of the British Channel during the remaining days of June following the initial landings at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches. This portion of Overlord was labelled Operation Neptune.
Are we the same Americans who fought and suffered from Inchon Harbor to the Chosin Reservoir of Chesty Pullers outfit during the Korean Conflict? Are we more concerned today with perverse lifestyles than we are the banners of freedom and liberty?
The American generations of the past were concerned with the moral character and educational development of their children. Are we so concerned today, or do we thoughtlessly turn them over to institutions of CRT indoctrination?
I do not believe the America of our glorious past would have tolerated the denial of children to pray, or to have access to the reading of the Bible in schools. Nor would they have allowed the unconstitutional tyranny of black-robed judges to legislate in lieu of duly elected individuals. I yearn to see a return to the America that was great in the eyes of her people and the peoples around the world – an America leading the planet in education, science, medicine, and space exploration. What about you, my fellow Americans?
If we do not awaken to who we were “Under God” in years past, instead of participating in a great invasion, such as Normandy, to protect the freedom of our allies and own land, we may suffer an invasion on our own soil that will impose once more the yoke of a despotic and tyrannical government. Our only resort is to turn once again to the Sovereign of our early Founding as a Nation.
In Christ Alone during Season of LENT,
† Jerry L. Ogles, D.D.
Presiding Bishop.
AnglicanOrthodox Communion Worldwide & Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary
Let us carefully observe how little good they do who attempt to mix up evangelical preaching and a ritual ceremony. Little, did I say? – they do no good at all! The world is never won by trimming and compromising, by facing both ways, and trying to please all. The cross of Christ is never made more acceptable by sawing off its corners, or by polishing, varnishing, and adorning it. Processions and banners, and flowers, and crosses, and excessive quantity of music, and elaborate services, and beautiful vestments may please children and weak-minded people. But they never helped forward heart-conversion and heart-sanctification, and they never will. Bishop J. C. Ryle, First Bishop of Liverpool, U.K.
“Metus improbo compescit, non clementia.” – Syrus, MAXIMS: Fear, not kindness, restrains the wicked!
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer – HOLY SCRIPTURE:
“If there were any word of God beside the Scripture, we could never be certain of God’s Word; and if we be uncertain of God’s Word, the devil might bring in among us a new word, a new doctrine, a new faith, a new church, a new god, yea himself to be a god. If the Church and the Christian faith did not stay itself upon the Word of God certain, as upon a sure and strong foundation, no man could know whether he had a right faith, and whether he were in the true Church of Christ, or a synagogue of Satan.”
