    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [May 1, 2003]
    [Pages 406-408]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the National Day of Prayer
    May 1, 2003

        Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm glad you're here
    at the people's house. Laura and I welcome you.
    We're really pleased to have you here. I want to thank each of you for
    participating in the National Day of Prayer. It's a good time to be
    praying. Every day is a good day to pray. [Laughter]
        Today we recognize the many ways our country has been blessed, and
    we acknowledge the source of those blessings. Millions of Americans seek
    guidance every day in prayer to the Almighty God. I am one of them. I
    also know that many Americans remember Laura and me in their prayers,
    and we are so very, very grateful.

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        I want to thank General Hicks, chaplain of
    the entire U.S. Army, for being here today, and thank you for your
    service. Shirley, thank you as well for once
    again being the chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer. I see you
    brought your husband along too. [Laughter]
        Luis, muchas gracias. Thank you for your beautiful prayer. Father
    Joe Wallroth is going to be with us in a
    second. I'm honored you are here, Father.
        I really want to thank the Washington National Cathedral Choir of
    Men and Girls. It is a fabulous way to begin a morning, to walk down the
    corridor here and hear your beautiful voices echo throughout this
    magnificent house. We're really glad you're here, and thank you for
    sharing your talents. Julie, thank you as well
    for coming. Gosh, I could have sat here and listened all day to your
    singing. [Laughter]
        We've got a lot of military chaplains who are here. I want to thank
    you for your service to your country and to those who wear our uniform.
    You make a tremendous difference in the lives, the daily lives, of
    people who are frightened and lonely and worried and strong and
    courageous. I appreciate so very much what you have done and will
    continue to do.
        So many great events in our Nation's history were shaped by men and
    women who found strength and direction in prayer. The first President to
    live in this house composed a prayer on his second evening here for all
    who would follow him. Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, knew that his
    burdens were too great for any man, so he carried them to God in prayer.
    Over the radio on D-day in 1944, Franklin Roosevelt prayed for God's
    blessing on our mission to ``set free a suffering humanity.''
        This past month has been another time of testing for America and
    another time of intense prayer. Americans have been praying for the
    safety of our troops and for the protection of innocent life in Iraq.
    Americans prayed that war would not be necessary and now pray that peace
    will be just and lasting.
        We continue to pray for the recovery of the wounded and for the
    comfort of all who have lost a loved one. The Scriptures say, ``The Lord
    is near to all who call on Him.'' Calling on God in prayer brings us
    nearer to each other. After his son was rescued
    from northern Iraq, the father of Sergeant James
    Riley of New Jersey said, ``We have been flooded with people's prayers.
    Everyone is praying for us, and we are so grateful.''
        During Operation Iraqi Freedom, many Americans have registered
    online to adopt a service man or woman in prayer. Others wear prayer
    bracelets to remind themselves to intercede on behalf of our troops. In
    Fountain City, Wisconsin, Lynn Cox has collected at
    least 80 Bibles to send to those serving in Iraq. In Green, Ohio, a
    group of parishioners at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church has made 2,000
    rosaries for our troops. Margaret Brown, who
    helped start the group, said, ``We want them to know that someone back
    here is holding them up in prayer and that God is so powerful He can
    supply all their needs.''
        To pray for someone else is an act of generosity. We set our own
    cares aside and look to strengthen another. Prayer teaches humility. We
    find that the plan of the Creator is sometimes very different from our
    own. Yet, we learn to depend on His loving will, bowing to purposes we
    don't always understand. Prayer can lead to a grateful heart, turning
    our minds to all the gifts of life and to the great works of God.
        Prayer can also contribute to the life of our Nation. America is a
    strong nation, in part because we know the limits of human strength. All
    strength must be guided by wisdom and justice and humility. We pray that
    God will grant us that wisdom, that sense of justice, and that humility
    in our current challenges and in the years ahead.
        I thank you all for helping to keep prayer an integral part of our
    national life. May God bless each one of you, and may God

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    continue to bless the United States of America.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:47 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Brig. Gen. David Hicks, USA,
    Deputy Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Army; Shirley Dobson, chairman, National
    Day of Prayer Task Force; James C. Dobson, founder and president, Focus
    on the Family; Luis Palau, president, Luis Palau Evangelistic
    Association; Col. Joseph Wallroth, USAF, Wing Chaplain, Andrews Air
    Force Base; and Julie Keim, soloist, Washington National Cathedral. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks. The National Day of Prayer proclamation of
    April 30 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.