[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 16 (Monday, April 28, 2008)]
[Pages 564-565]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8242--National Day of Prayer, 2008

 April 21, 2008

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    America trusts in the abiding power of prayer and asks for the 
wisdom to discern God's will in times of joy and of trial. As we observe 
this National Day of Prayer, we recognize our dependence on the 
Almighty, we thank Him for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, 
and we put our country's future in His hands.
    From our Nation's humble beginnings, prayer has guided our leaders 
and played a vital role in the life and history of the United States. 
Americans of many different faiths

[[Page 565]]

share the profound conviction that God listens to the voice of His 
children and pours His grace upon those who seek Him in prayer. By 
surrendering our lives to our loving Father, we learn to serve His 
eternal purposes, and we are strengthened, refreshed, and ready for all 
that may come.
    On this National Day of Prayer, we ask God's continued blessings on 
our country. This year's theme, ``Prayer! America's Strength and 
Shield,'' is taken from Psalm 28:7, ``The Lord is my strength and my 
shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.'' On this day, we pray 
for the safety of our brave men and women in uniform, for their 
families, and for the comfort and recovery of those who have been 
wounded.
    The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our 
Nation to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society by recognizing each 
year a ``National Day of Prayer.''
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2008, 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, comfort, and protection. I invite all 
Americans to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, 
ceremonies, and activities.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first 
day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
second.

                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:07 a.m., April 23, 
2008]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on April 22, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
April 24. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language version of this proclamation.