[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 18 (Monday, May 6, 2002)]
[Pages 697-698]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7547--National Day of Prayer, 2002

 April 26, 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.

[[Page 698]]

    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.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., April 30, 
2002]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May 1. 
This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate 
issue.