[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 25291-25292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10370]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 5, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 25291]]


                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.

[[Page 25292]]

                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

[FR Doc. 04-10370
Filed 5-4-04; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P