National Day of Prayer, 2004

Proclamation 7780 of 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.

(Presidential Sig.)B