[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 127, 113th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8974--MAY 1, 2013

Proclamation 8974 of May 1, 2013

National Day of Prayer, 2013
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Americans have long turned to prayer both in times of joy and times of
sorrow. On their voyage to the New World, the earliest settlers prayed
that they would ``rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer
together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in
the work.'' From that day forward, Americans have prayed as a means of
uniting, guiding, and healing. In times of hardship and tragedy, and in
periods of peace and prosperity, prayer has provided reassurance,
sustenance, and affirmation of common purpose.
Prayer brings communities together and can be a wellspring of strength
and support. In the aftermath of senseless acts of violence, the prayers
of countless Americans signal to grieving families and a suffering
community that they are not alone. Their pain is a shared pain, and
their hope a shared hope. Regardless of religion or creed, Americans
reflect on the sacredness of life and express their sympathy for the
wounded, offering comfort and holding up a light in an hour of darkness.
All of us have the freedom to pray and exercise our faiths openly. Our
laws protect these God-given liberties, and rightly so. Today and every
day, prayers will be offered in houses of worship, at community
gatherings, in our homes, and in neighborhoods all across our country.
Let us give thanks for the freedom to practice our faith as we see fit,
whether individually or in fellowship.
On this day, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers all those
affected by recent events, such as the Boston Marathon bombings, the
Newtown, Connecticut shootings, and the explosion in West, Texas. Let us
pray for the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders
who put themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow Americans. Let
us also pray for the safety of our brave men and women in uniform and
their families who serve and sacrifice for our country. Let us come
together to pray for peace and goodwill today and in the days ahead as
we work to meet the great challenges of our time.
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the
President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first
Thursday in May as a ``National Day of Prayer.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2, 2013, as a
National Day of Prayer. I join the citizens of our Nation in giving
thanks, in accordance with our own faiths and consciences,




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for our many
freedoms and blessings, and in asking for God's continued guidance,
mercy, and protection.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA