National Day of Prayer Continues Long History

The National Day of Prayer will continue its long-standing tradition tomorrow.

Peggy Slagle with The National Day of Prayer Cookeville Chapter said the call for a day of prayer dates back to the American Revolution.

“The predecessors to the National Day of Prayer started in 1775. The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer,” Slagle said. “The next one, or the next biggest one, was in 1863. Abraham Lincoln also called for a National Day of Prayer. ”

The government supported the creation of an annual day during the Korean War.

“Then in 1952, Congress established an annual National Day of Prayer and it was signed into law by President Truman,” Slagle said. “Then in 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.”

Slagle said Putnam County has participated in the National Day of Prayer over the past 20 years.

“Our nation is always in need of prayer daily,” Slagle said. “But this is a concerted effort to do a nationwide day of prayer to correlate with the legislation that was signed by President Truman and Reagan.”

Slagle said past years have brought over 100 people together in prayer at the Cookeville meeting.

“Well, it’s a big deal. We have people gathering from all over the county,” Slagle said. “They even come from other counties, if their county is not participating.”

White, Warren and Putnam County, among others, will host National Day of Prayer services on May 2.