God & Country

The Oath We Still Live By

The U.S. Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment Federal law requires everyone who enlists or re-enlists in the Armed Forces of the United States to take the below enlistment oath.
We do solemnly swear (or affirm) that we will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign, and domestic; that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that we will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help us God.

Our Pledge to God & Country

Our Lord's Prayer

"Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name."
When Moses approached God on Mount Sinai, he heard a voice saying, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." An infinite chasm separates us from the transcendent God. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus invites us to draw near to God who is beyond human understanding, who dwells in mystery, who is all holy. We can call God "our Father".Calling God "Father" does not mean that God is masculine. God is beyond the categories of gender, of masculine or feminine. None of our descriptions of God is adequate. God, who is "in heaven", whose name is holy, cannot be fully known by us.By calling God "Father" we are more rightly describing ourselves and our relationship with God. Jesus teaches that we have a filial relationship with God; God sees us as if we were a daughter or a son. And we, on our part, can approach God in the familiar confident way a child approaches a loving parent. What is more, we approach God through God's only Son, Jesus Christ, who unites us to himself.
"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
God's kingdom. Jesus often said that God's power would appear and renew all creation. God like a mighty king would rule over the earth according to a plan that unfolds from the beginning of the world. God's kingdom would be marked by peace and justice. Good would be rewarded and evil punished. The kingdom, according to Jesus, is not far off, but already present in our midst, though not yet revealed. In the Lord's prayer we pray that God's kingdom come, that God's will, which is for our good, be done on earth as it is in heaven.
"Give us this day our daily bread."
We are God's children. What can be more childlike than this petition in which we pray for our daily bread, a word that describes all those physical, human and spiritual gifts we need to live. With the confidence of children we say: "Give us this day what we need."
"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
This petition of the Lord's Prayer is a demanding one. Not only do we ask God's forgiveness for our daily offenses, but we link God's forgiveness of us with our forgiveness of others. Forgiving others is not always easy to do. We need God's help to do it. But it must be done or we ourselves cannot receive God's mercy.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."
Life is not easy. It is a daily battle. Trials like sickness and failure can crush our spirits. False values and easy promises can entice us and even destroy our souls. And so we ask God to keep us from failing when we are tested, to help us to know the right thing to do, to deliver us from the evil awaits us in life.

Our Pledge of Allegence

"I pledge allegiance"(I promise to be true)"to the flag"(to the symbol of our country)"of the United States of America"(each state that has joined to make our country)"and to the Republic"(a republic is a country where the people choose others to make laws for them -- the government is for the people)"for which it stands,"(the flag means the country)"one Nation"(a single country)"under God,"(the people believe in a supreme being)"indivisible,"(the country cannot be split into parts)"with liberty and justice"(with freedom and fairness)"for all."(for each person in the country...you and me!)This pledge says you are promising to be true to the United States of America!

For Medical, Physical Emergencies & Suicide Prevention:

  • Dial 988 from any phone and your call will be immediately routed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Hit #1 if you are a Veteran.
  • The current Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) is always available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.,
  • If you or someone you are helping is hurt or in imminent danger, please get to a phone and dial 9-1-1 for immediate help.
  • If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or facing a crisis, dial 2-1-1 in Indy or 1-(866) 211-9966 for immediate help.
  • If you are a victim of domestic violence, dial 1-(800) 332-7385 in Indy for help.
For Non-Emergencies:
  • If you are a Veteran, or a family member of a Veteran, in search of information on how to get goods or services you/they may need, you can dial 2-1-1 or contact one of the Service Providers or Veterans Organizations listed on our "Resources" page.
  • Cellphone users in Marion County may now dial 3-1-1 to reach the non-emergency line for IMPD and other Marion County dispatchers. The non-emergency phone number for callers using landlines is (317) 327-3811.
Please Note:
  • VSC is not a provider of any financial assistance or direct services other than Information and Referrals on where to get goods, services, programs, and benefits for Veterans, the Military, and their families.
Disclaimer:
  • This is a private website and is NOT affiliated with any U.S. government or U.S. Armed Forces agencies.
  • We reserve the right to monitor the content of this website and regret that some suggested or recommended resources may not be accepted for one reason or another.
  • The information and organizations listed on this website do not necessarily mean that we endorse their information, data, or their resources. We have done our best to include information and resources that benefit our Veterans, the Military Community, and their Families.