New Army Hymn Now Available To Soldiers, Veterans, And Families

 Following recent coverage in Christianity Today and elsewhere, a newly released composition, “Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer,” has gained nationwide recognition as a semi-official United States Army Hymn. Introduced by the United States Space Force Hymn composer and retired Army Chaplain, Major James F. Linzey, the piece follows in the tradition of the United States Navy Hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” as a dedicated sacred hymn for Army personnel, veterans, and military families.

The hymn has also been professionally recorded and produced by Dan Kreider Music.

The Army Hymn features original lyrics by Linzey set to the 1861 hymn tune EVENTIDE, composed by English church musician William Henry Monk. While the Army’s official service song is “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” the new hymn was composed to provide a distinct sacred musical work for religious services, memorial observances, veterans' ceremonies, and military chapel use.

According to Linzey, the hymn was written to recognize the Army’s 250th anniversary and in remembrance of the “Four Immortal Chaplains” of World War II. The work was commissioned by retired Navy Chaplain Commander Don Biadog and completed on June 14, 2024.

The Four Chaplains—Methodist minister Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Catholic priest Father John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister Reverend Clark V. Poling—served aboard the USAT Dorchester, which was torpedoed in the North Atlantic in 1943. During the sinking, the chaplains gave their life jackets to other soldiers and remained aboard, praying with servicemen as the ship went down. All four were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart.

The hymn was released publicly during the Army’s semiquincentennial commemorations following earlier circulation within military chapels and religious communities. The arrangement is scored for SATB choir and made available for use by churches, military chapels, veterans organizations, schools, and community choruses.

Free sheet music and performance materials are distributed through ArmyHymn.com, where an audio file of the hymn can be downloaded.

Linzey told the Montgomery County Chronicle, "These hymns are intended to help communities honor those who have served while directing hearts toward prayer and gratitude. Military hymns have long united faith and service. This collection allows congregations to carry on that tradition in a meaningful, reverent way." The Maryland resident is the composer of not only the United States Space Force's hymn, and author of the lyrics for the NATO hymn, hhe also composed an arrangement titled, "The Six United States Military Hymns Medley." He said that the new Army hymn is not intended to replace the official Army March.

While the Army has long been represented ceremonially by its official march, “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” it has lacked a universally recognized military hymn comparable to the Navy Hymn until now. During the Second World War, the U.S. military issued prayer books that included hymns and rubrics for Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant worship. It was long available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Linzey’s composition was specifically written to provide the Army with a dedicated hymn for worship services, memorial observances, and military ceremonies. The piece is set to Eventide, the beloved 1861 hymn tune by William H. Monk.

“For generations, the Army lacked a dedicated sacred service hymn. ‘Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer’ admirably fills that role as the United States Army Hymn,” said Chaplain (LTC) Pearlean Scott, U.S. Army (Ret.), former Command Chaplain of the United States Army Cadet Command. “A military march and a sacred hymn serve entirely different ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Clarifying that distinction properly falls within the historical and liturgical role of military chaplains.”