For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 30, 2004
National Day of Prayer, 2004
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In his first Inaugural Address, President George Washington prayed
that the Almighty would preserve the freedom of all Americans. On the
National Day of Prayer, we celebrate that freedom and America's great
tradition of prayer. The National Day of Prayer encourages Americans
of every faith to give thanks for God's many blessings and to pray for
each other and our Nation.
Prayer is an opportunity to praise God for His mighty works, His
gift of freedom, His mercy, and His boundless love. Through prayer, we
recognize the limits of earthly power and acknowledge the sovereignty
of God. According to Scripture, "the Lord is near to all who call upon
Him .
. . He also will hear their cry, and save them." Prayer leads to humility
and a grateful heart, and it turns our minds to the needs of others.
On this National Day of Prayer, we pray especially for the brave
men and women of the United States Armed Forces who are serving around
the world to defend the cause of liberty. We are grateful for their
courage and sacrifice and ask God to comfort their families while they
are away from home. We also pray that the people of Iraq and
Afghanistan, and throughout the Greater Middle East, may live in safety
and freedom. During this time, we continue to ask God's blessing for
our Nation, granting us strength to meet the challenges ahead and
wisdom as we work to build a more peaceful future for all.
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our
citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society by recognizing
annually a "National Day of Prayer."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2004, as a National Day of
Prayer. I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each
according to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we
have received and for God's continued guidance and protection. I also
urge all Americans to join in observing this day with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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