National days of prayer have occurred since 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the nation to join in a petition for divine guidance. Since then, 34 of 44 U.S. presidents have called for days of prayer during times of crisis, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. This has been the tradition of our nation from its founding.
In 1952, both houses of Congress passed legislation establishing an official Day of Prayer. It was signed into law by President Harry Truman. In 1988, Congress passed an amendment to the earlier law designating the first Thursday of May as the annual National Day of Prayer. This has been our cherished history, which is supported by millions of Americans of all faiths.
Unfortunately, that heritage of prayer has come under unrelenting assault. On April 15, 2010, federal judge Barbara Crabb issued a ruling striking down the National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional. And now, a small group of naysayers in Albuquerque has demanded that the Pentagon cancel its planned National Day of Prayer on May 6th. It is time to say, “Enough is enough.”
America is engulfed in bloody wars on two fronts, where men and women are fighting and dying for the cause of liberty. They need, and deserve, the prayers of people of faith during their time of sacrifice. We at the National Day of Prayer Task Force ask the American people to defend the right to pray in the Pentagon and to call on President Obama to prepare a vigorous defense against the egregious decision by Judge Crabb. We can be silent no more.
Shirley Dobson
Chairperson
National Day of Prayer Task Force
