Historic Army Hymn Gains National Recognition Following National Media Attention
WASHINGTON — Following recent coverage in Christianity Today, Baptist Press, and the Montgomery County Chronicle, a newly released sacred composition, “Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer,” has gained nationwide recognition as the United States Army Hymn.
Formally introduced by 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 engraved, recorded, and produced by Dan Kreider Music.
While the Army has long been represented ceremonially by its official march, “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” it has lacked a universally recognized sacred military hymn comparable to the Navy Hymn until now. Linzey’s composition was specifically written to provide the Army with a dedicated sacred 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.”
The hymn is featured within Linzey’s larger ceremonial collection, The Six United States Military Hymns Medley. The medley presents the six institutional military hymns in official Department of Defense ceremonial order:
- United States Army Hymn: “Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer”
- United States Marine Corps Hymn: “Serving for Thee”
- United States NavyHymn: “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”
- United States Air ForceHymn: “Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly”
- United States Coast Guard Hymn: “Ruler of Land and Sea”
- United States Space Force Hymn: “Creator of the Universe”
For 250 years, the United States Army has lacked a universally dedicated sacred service hymn until now. Congregations already know the tune, making it seamless for worship settings. When asked why he wrote The United States Army Hymn, Linzey replied, “My life has been lived around the ethic that when you see a need, you meet it. I simply thought I would do the good deed for the Army, since no one had stepped forward to meet that need.”
“The United States Army Hymn was designed for Army chapel services, patriotic worship gatherings, military ceremonies, and memorial observances,” said former U.S. Army officer and Rabbi Chaplain Yehoshua Othniel, former Chief of Chaplains of the United States National Defense Corps. “With this composition, Chaplain Linzey provides chaplains, churches, and synagogues with a sacred musical resource especially well suited for ministry to soldiers, veterans, and military families.”
“Linzey is widely known as the former Air Force captain who composed the United States Space Force Hymn, ‘Creator of the Universe,’” said Chaplain, Major Michael R. O’Donnell, USAF (Ret.), former Acting Wing Chaplain of Norton AFB. The hymn has received national recognition through coverage by Christianity Today, Baptist Press, and The Space Review, a publication associated with SpaceNews. He also received nationwide recognition for creating the traditional 4/4 edition of the United States Air Force Hymn, “Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly.”
He is also the son of the late Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., Chaplain Corps, USN (Ret.), a survivor of the USS Yorktown (CV-5) at the Battle of Midway. His late mother, Dr. Verna May Hall Linzey, received the honorary title “Mother of the Fleet” from the United States Navy.
Linzey is a twenty-four-year military veteran with the rare distinction of service across U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps communities. A Southern Baptist minister, he served in four Army Command Chaplain assignments and became the first full-time chaplain for the Leader’s Training Course (now Cadet Summer Training) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While there, he authored the Official Institutional U.S. Army Cadet Command Prayer, one of only four official institutional military prayers.
Linzey has lectured on Military Leadership for the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Meade, South Dakota, and has presented on the Battle of Midway for Marine Corps Professional Military Education at MCAS Miramar. During a shortage of Navy chaplains and with command approval, he was also authorized to lead the Protestant services for three years at the Airman-Marine Memorial Chapel under the leadership of Commander Don Biadog, the Command Chaplain.
Sheet music, audio resources, and additional media coverage are available online through the official hymn websites.
About Commander Biadog:
Chaplain Don Biadog is the 2024 recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2016-2019, at the conclusion of his Naval career, he served as the Command Chaplain at the former “Home of Top Gun,” MCAS Miramar, where he pastored the Airman-Marine Memorial Chapel.
