National Day of Prayer program on Thursday

National Day of Prayer will be celebrated in Kilgore at noon May 4 in the Sesquicentennial Plaza in Kilgore.

Rev. Charlotte Austin said the National Day of Prayer is sponsored by the Kilgore Ministerial Alliance and the ceremony will feature music, scripture and prayer. The Gregg County Civil Air Patrol will be handling colors.

Austin said the National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 when President Truman signed a joint resolution with Congress.

Austin said the president picked the day until President

Reagan changed the law and made the National Day of Prayer the first Thursday in May.

Austin said the President of the United States signs a proclamation each year encouraging all Americans to pray on the first Thursday of May. Many U.S. governors sign a similar proclamation.

Austin said the national theme this year is "God Shed His Grace O Thee" which is based on Hebrews 4:16.

Sesquicentennial Plaza is adjacent to the police station at the corner of Hwy. 42 and Kilgore Street.