Portman, Johnson Applaud Funding for Addition of FDR’s D-Day Prayer to the National Mall
CINCINNATI, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH) applauded the news that the Lilly Endowment Inc. has committed the funding needed to install a plaque with the text of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “D-Day Prayer” on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The World War II Memorial Prayer Act, authored by Portman and Johnson, was signed into law in 2014 and directed the Secretary of the Interior to add a plaque or inscription of the prayer in the area of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered this prayer to the nation on the morning of June 6, 1944, the day the Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy which ultimately turned the tide of World War II. Many consider D-Day to be the single most important moment of the 20th century.
The location of the plaque has been determined to be at the Circle of Remembrance, near the World War II Memorial. The legislation requires that the plaque comply with the Commemorative Works Act and prohibits the use of federal funding. The project is being led by the Friends of the World War II Memorial and is expected to be completed on the 78th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2022.
On the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Portman led a reading of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day Prayer and previewed the placement of a temporary plaque at the Circle of Remembrance inscribed with the words of the prayer.
“D-Day was a day of monumental loss and monumental triumph,” said Portman. “The fate of the free world rested on the shoulders of the brave young men charging onto the beaches of Normandy, and President Roosevelt’s prayer that day helped to comfort the nation in a time of great uncertainty. I’m glad that his words will soon take their proper place in our memorial to the war that changed the course of history.”
“I stand in awe of the sacrifices made by those who fought in World War II – that Greatest Generation — and deeply appreciate all Americans who have answered our nation’s call to defend our freedoms and way of life,” said Johnson. “President Roosevelt had a tremendous weight on his shoulders the morning of June 6, 1944, as he sent 73,000 U.S. soldiers into enemy territory to defeat evil. He knew the great endeavor our warriors were embarking on would be tremendously dangerous, and that we would need God’s help…so, he turned to God to find comfort and peace for our nation. Now, thanks to the generosity and determination of so many, the plaque bearing his inspirational prayer, “Let Our Hearts Be Stout,” will forever be remembered at the World War II Memorial.”
“The Ohio Christian Alliance would like to thank the Lilly Endowment Inc. for their generous grant that will help make the addition of this historical Presidential prayer a reality at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. We would also like to thank Senator Rob Portman, the sponsor of S. 1044, the legislation that made the addition of the prayer possible,” said Chris Long, President, Ohio Christian Alliance. “The prayer’s addition will serve as a lasting tribute to the 16 million Americans who served us in WWII. President Roosevelt’s prayer articulated the great crusade that was underway to liberate millions suffering under tyranny. He addressed the concerns of those who had family members serving in the war effort, and paid honor to the fallen and those veterans who fought courageously in the conflict. It is fitting that succeeding generations learn of this prayer that was offered at that most poignant moment in our nation’s history.”
“Friends of the National World War II Memorial is grateful to Sen. Portman for introducing the legislation in 2014 to add FDR’s D-Day prayer to the World War II Memorial,” said Holly Rotondi, executive director of Friends of the National World War II Memorial. “The Circle of Remembrance will finally be complete with the generous gift from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and visitors can continue to gather at the Memorial, reflect on the lessons of World War II and learn how unifying our country was and can be.”
COLUMBUS POLICE REPORT - Call Log of alarms, calls, and engagement with protesting rioters on the night of May 28th in downtown Columbus.
Click on this link to read the entire report! Breaking News - On pages 13 and 14 of the report, some of the rioting anarchists that had broken into the Ohio Statehouse on the night of May 28 intended to set the Statehouse on fire, according to this report. This 35-page report is a chronological timeline of the police calls that came in and the business alarms that went off throughout the downtown area on the riotous night of May 28th this year in downtown Columbus. Twenty-seven windows of the Ohio Statehouse, the front door was compromised, and the building was rushed and ransacked by anarchists. The handful of highway patrolmen who were on duty that night were shaken by the experience. Columbus Police came to their aid, deploying tear gas and wood bullets (knee-knockers) at the anarchists. Fourteen arrests were made that night, but Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein dropped the charges.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien and his team investigated the crimes and researched the videotapes and body cams from Highway Patrol and Columbus Police.
His office has charged 20 individuals with felony indictments. A number of these individuals have been charged on multiple counts of criminal damaging, vandalism, aggravated arson, aggravated riot, and other related charges.
Health Departments Continue Their Harassment of Ohio Churches
County health departments continue sending letters, making phone calls and emails to churches in counties throughout Ohio with complaints that their religious gatherings are not complying with state face mask orders. In this pastors panel discussion, we talk with two pastors who have been contacted by the departments of health. The Ohio Christian Alliance has obtained record reports which indicate that the DeWine Administration is encouraging local health departments to enforce the face mask mandate. OCA has also obtained records that confirm that funding is being provided to health departments and local prosecutors' offices to carry out the enforcement of the Governor's face mask mandate. The following was obtained by a public records request-
We are making an official records request for information pertaining to violations or conversations regarding COVD19 restrictions or policies.
1. We request information for Phone calls made from 7/13/20 to 8/27/20 to churches or religious organizations to include the name of the organization, who contacted them and date
2. We would also request a copy of any written or electronic information or warnings sent to churches or religious organizations between 7/13/20 and 8/27/20 as a result of a complaint or possible violation of the COVID-19 protocol
3. We would also like a copy of any correspondence between the Cuyahoga County Health Dept. and Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Dept. or other law enforcement entity regarding support for visits or issuing fines and warnings for COVID-19 protocol.
The following was obtained by a public records request-
-The Governor would like to provide assistance to local health departments, and local prosecutor’s offices to help with the enforcement of Ohio Department of Health orders. The basic concept is that the Ohio Department of Health would provide funding for local health departments to contract with investigators who would assist in the investigation of complaints against individuals and businesses who repeatedly and blatantly fail to comply with the Ohio Department of Health orders.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT CALL LOGS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED IN A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST BY THE OHIO CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE DETAILING THAT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE MAKING NUMEROUS CALLS TO CHURCHES ABOUT THE STATE'S FACE MASK ORDER - THE RESPONSES ARE MEANT TO INTIMIDATE PASTORS AND CHURCHES
The following is a screenshot of a text message obtained by public records request between health department officials in Northeast Ohio referencing the use of a county Sheriff to accompany agents as a show of force to help enforce the face mask order. Again, this records request was in relation to the county Department of Health engagement with churches since the state's face mask order went into effect. CLICK HERE TO READ THE CALL LOGS
The Ohio Christian Alliance and its network of churches, staff, and volunteers, are going to stay on top of this issue until there is clarity from the Governor's office down to the county boards of health that churches are not to be targets of anonymous complaints that cause local government departments of health officials to act with gestapo-style bullying tactics against churches and their pastors.
If your church has been contacted by county health officials, please fill out this form, and our staff will get back with you. We are compiling a list of churches throughout the state that have been contacted by county health departments in the last several weeks since the face mask statewide mandate went into effect.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make the OCA Freedom Banquet a special evening of encouragement and blessing. Thanks to Dr. Paul Jehle for his presentation on the Pilgrims and the Plymouth Landing 400th year. We'd also like to thank State Auditor Keith Faber and SOS Frank LaRose for sharing with our attendees. Special thanks to our emcee Matt Miller and Melanie Murphy Miller for the presentation of patriotic music. CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES FORM THE OCA FREEDOM BANQUET!
Protests sparked in cities across America in response to the viral video of the arrest and death of George Floyd. What followed were protests that turned into riots and something more, orchestrated anarchy in the city streets of America by the well-funded organized domestic terrorist organization ANTIFA. In this program, we receive a detailed report of the tactics, funding, and organization of the group ANTIFA.
Part 2 Constitutional studies in the Ohio classroom. The audio testimony presented by OCA President Chris Long in the Primary and Secondary Education Committee held on Tuesday, May 26th before anyone knew what was happening in the outside world in relation to the George Floyd tragedy. Of special interest is the discussion with committee members as it relates to the importance of Constitutional studies and the rights of all men and women under the U.S. Constitution. Tune in and tell a friend.
Medina, OH - Concerned Citizens of Medina City today submitted a protest appeal to the Medina County Board of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State regarding the Medina City Ordinance 112-19 that was passed by Medina City Council on July 8, 2019. This ordinance is an LGBTQ comprehensive special rights ordinance. Citizens in the community of Medina had expressed concerns about the comprehensive nature of the ordinance before Medina City Council passed it.
Citizen volunteers with assistance of the Ohio Christian Alliance circulated a referendum petition to place the measure on the ballot. 1,173 signatures were gathered in just fourteen days. On July 31st, the citizens committee submitted the referendum petition in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code to City Finance Director Keith Durham. Mr. Durham held the petitions for ten days before submitting them to the Medina County Board of Elections for review. On August 12th the Board of Elections reported that they had invalidated 234 of the signatures. 983 signatures were needed to place the measure on the ballot. The Board determined that the referendum petition committee had 939 good signatures, 44 signatures short of what was needed.
The Ohio Christian Alliance made a public records request from the Medina County BOE and began a review with its attorneys of the Board’s findings. The Medina County Board of Elections officials had invalidated 59 signatures for what they called “non-matching signature.” In other words, these are registered voters in the City of Medina about whom the Board of Elections officials made a judgement call by stating that their signatures did not match what the Board had on file. The Concerned Citizens of Medina City Committee and its volunteers informed the petition signers whose signatures were rejected that the Board had invalidated their signatures for what they termed “non-matching”. These citizens were more than eager to sign sworn affidavits attesting to their identity, and that they had indeed signed the referendum petition and wanted it on the ballot.
This material proof has been submitted as testament that these signatures were valid and that these petition signers wrongfully had their signatures invalidated by the Board’s review. We are confident that upon further review, the referendum effort will be certified for the November 2020 ballot. It is important that the people’s right of referendum be upheld.
The Medina County Board of Elections on Monday reported to Medina City Finance Director Keith Dirham that the referendum petition effort on Ordinance 112-19, the LGBTQ Special Rights Ordinance, had fallen short of the signatures needed. However, OCA and its attorneys see discrepancies in the initial report. The Board invalidated 260 of the 1,173 signatures submitted. OCA President Chris Long made the following statement, “Today we officially made public records request for the complete report of the signature review by the Medina County Board of Elections. There are a number of questions concerning the initial report. We believe that upon further review enough signatures will be validated to place the measure on the ballot in November 2020. The Concerned Citizens of Medina City, along with the Ohio Christian Alliance and their attorneys will review and challenge the Board’s findings on the signatures they invalidated. We are confident that we will have enough signatures to be on the fall ballot of 2020. The residents of the City of Medina who are concerned about this new ordinance have a right to have their voices heard at the ballot box. We will fight for their right of representative government and for them to have their opportunity to vote. We are only 44 signatures away from certification for the referendum to be on the ballot. We are confident that the court will validate enough signatures for the referendum to be on the ballot and let the people decide.”
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Passes HCR 10
Today, members of the Ohio Legislature took a positive step forward, pushing back against anti-Semitism by passing out of committee HCR 10, the resolution to condemn the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel and to condemn increasing incidents of anti-Semitism on Ohio college campuses.
OCA President Chris Long stated, "The Ohio Christian Alliance is pleased to lend its support to this resolution that Representatives Andy Thompson and David Greenspan, along with 25 other co-sponsors, have signed on to.
In a major breach of protocol, the State of the State Address by Governor Kasich before a joint session of the Ohio General Assembly in Marietta last week, did not open with a prayer from the clergy. OCA President Chris Long who was in attendance recounted, "There was a call to order by the Speaker of the House and Senate President, a call to quorum, the presentation of colors by the Honor Guard, and then the Senate President looked down at his notes as to what was next on the program. .......
Ohio Christian Alliance Urges Delay of Implementation of Online Voter Registration in Ohio to Safeguard Ohio's Vote S.B. 63, the online voter registration bill, has raised concerns that it may further threaten Ohio's election integrity. Ohio's elections process has been under some scrutiny over the past several years due to an increase in reported voter fraud cases, referenced in the Ohio SOS Post-Election Voter Fraud Reports May 2013, SOS December 2013 Report "Non-U.S. Citizens Register and Vote in the Battleground State of Ohio", SOS report March 12, 2015 in which it was reported that 436 non-U.S. citizens were registered to vote in Ohio, 44 of whom actually cast ballots, and the June 25, 2015 SOS report "14 Individuals Referred for Investigation for Allegedly Illegally Voting." Additionally, Franklin County reported more than 90 cases of double voting in the 2012 Presidential Election .....
WWII Memorial Prayer Act Signed Into Law by The President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2014 It's official – The President has signed The WWII Memorial Prayer Act (S1044) into law. Earlier this month, the bill passed The U.S. Senate in a unanimous consent measure just in time for the 70th anniversary observance of the D-Day Landings. Last week, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure overwhelmingly by a vote of 370-12, and yesterday, The President signed the bill into law. The Ohio Christian Alliance would like to commend the bill's sponsors, Senator Rob Portman (OH) and Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), and Congressman Bill Johnson of Ohio's 6th District, who was the House sponsor, for their support of this historic legislation that will add FDR's D-Day Landing prayer to the WWII memorial in Washington D.C.
