National Day of Prayer, 2002

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7547 of April 26, 2002

National Day of Prayer, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since our Nation's founding, Americans have turned to
prayer for inspiration, strength, and guidance. In
times of trial, we ask God for wisdom, courage,
direction, and comfort. We offer thanks for the
countless blessings God has provided. And we thank God
for sanctifying every human life by creating each of us
in His image. As we observe this National Day of
Prayer, we call upon the Almighty to continue to bless
America and her people.

Especially since September 11, millions of Americans
have been led to prayer. They have prayed for comfort
in a time of grief, for understanding in a time of
anger, and for protection in a time of uncertainty. We
have all seen God's great faithfulness to our country.
America's enemies sought to weaken and destroy us
through acts of terror. None of us would ever wish on
anyone what happened on September 11th. Yet tragedy and
sorrow none of us would choose have brought forth
wisdom, courage, and generosity. In the face of
terrorist attacks, prayer provided Americans with hope
and strength for the journey ahead.

God has blessed our Nation beyond measure. We give
thanks for our families and loved ones, for the
abundance of our land and the fruits of labor, for our
inalienable rights and liberties, and for a great
Nation that leads the world in efforts to preserve
those rights and liberties. We give thanks for all
those across the world who have joined with America in
the fight against terrorism. We give thanks for the men
and women of our military, who are fighting to defend
our Nation and the future of civilization.

We continue to remember those who are suffering and
face hardships. We pray for peace throughout the world.

On this National Day of Prayer, I encourage Americans
to remember the words of St. Paul: ``Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God.'' The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended,
has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of
prayer in our society and to honor the religious
diversity our freedom permits by recognizing annually a
``National Day of Prayer.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim May 2, 2002, as a National
Day of Prayer. I ask Americans to pray for God's
protection, to express gratitude for our blessings, and
to seek moral and spiritual renewal. I urge all our
citizens to join in observing this day with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B