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 Proc. 7896 Title 3--The President 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 2005 as Older Ameri- cans Month. I commend our senior citizens for their many contributions to our society. I also commend the network of Federal, State, local, and tribal organizations, service and health care providers, caregivers, and dedicated volunteers who work on behalf of our senior citizens. I encourage all Amer- icans to honor their elders, to care for those in need, and to publicly reaf- firm our Nation's commitment to older Americans this month and through- out the year. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7896 of May 3, 2005 National Day of Prayer, 2005 By the President of the United States of Arnerica A Proclamation Since our Nation's earliest days, prayer has given strength and comfort to Americans of all faiths. Our Founding Fathers relied on their faith to guide them as they built our democracy\337 Today, we continue to be inspired by God's blessings, mercy, and boundless love\337 As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we humbly acknowledge our reliance on the Almighty, ex- press our gratitude for His blessings, and seek His guidance in our daily lives\337 Throughout our history, our Nation has turned to prayer for strength and guidance in times of challenge and uncertainty\337 The Continental Congress, meeting in 1775, asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a new Nation\337 Throughout the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued ex- hortations to prayer, calling upon the American people to humble them- selves before their Maker and to serve all those in need\337 At the height of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt led our citizens in prayer over the radio, asking for God to protect our sons in battle\337 Today, our Nation prays for those who serve bravely in the United States Armed Forces in dif- ficult missions around the world, and we pray for their families. Across our country, Americans turn daily to God in reverence\337 We ask Him to care for all those who suffer or feel helpless, knowing that God sees their needs and calls on us to meet them\337 As our first President wrote in 1790, "May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths \337 . .". As we face the challenges of our times, God's purpose continues to guide us, and we continue to trust in the goodness of His plans\337 The Congress by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our citi- zens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the freedom of religion by recognizing annually a "National Day of Prayer\337" 52

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