A Lasting Tradition : The National Day of Prayer

In 1975 Thanks-Giving Square presented to President Gerald Ford a collection of Thanksgiving and Prayer proclamations dating back to the Continental Congress.

Though the first prayer proclamation named a July date, later proclamations centered in the springtime, with three falling on Thursdays (1779, 1781 and 1782) and two specifically on the first Thursday in May (1779 and 1791).

Such observances had been followed by many faiths and cultures for thousands of years as people prayed for rain in the springtime and gave thanks for the harvest in the fall.

On April 17, 1952 the U. S. House and Senate resolved that a National Day of Prayer should be held every year. However, no pattern was set for the time of year.

In 1981 Ambassador Ann Armstrong, Chair of the Thanksgiving Commission of the Thanks-Giving Foundation, advised President Ronald Reagan about the Continental Congress springtime date. He thus proclaimed the first Thursday in May 1981 the National Day of Prayer, then confirmed by a unanimous vote of Congress in 1988.

The Thanks-Giving Foundation in Dallas organized the original National Day of Prayer Breakfast in 1981 and continues the annual tradition.

Once a National Day of Prayer was set, more events became scheduled on that day so that thousands of observances now take place throughout these United States.

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Thanks-Giving World Advisors.

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Dr. Harbans Lal of the Sikh Community in Dallas addresses a point.

Board members and interested persons met in Dallas during three days in May for consultation to establish the "Thanks-Giving World Institute," the next stage "to give joyful thanks at all times to God" (from the Charter, 1964).

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World Advisor Dr. Seshagiri Rao expressed the Hindu perspective on gratitude.

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Five visiting World Advisors pose with founder Mr. Peter Stewart in the Hall of Thanksgiving. They are Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Dr. Seshagiri Rao, Lama Dorjee, Rabbi Lawrence Jackofsky, and Brother David Steindl-Rast.

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2008 Arts Winners, ThanksGiving
Square

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Immanuel Dawson 1st Place, Grades 9-12
Life Charter Academy, Dallas

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Maria Ayala Acosta 2nd Place, Grades 9-12
Life Charter Academy, Dallas

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Kennede Hutson, Madeleine Wilmer, Kassidie Williams, Dance
winners, Grades 4-5
Rockwall Christian Academy, Rockwall, TX

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Mr. Rick Sorrells, Superintendent of Dallas County Schools, presented the literature prize for Grades 9-12 to Miss Elizabeth Abide from The Highlands School.

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Arts Awardees virtually filled every seat for congratulations, along with civic and school leaders and their friends in the Thanks-Giving Square Conference Hall.