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Celebrating Mothers, Veterans and Prayer

The month of May invites us to celebrate Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and the National Day of Prayer — three occasions to honor those worthy of our sincerest appreciation.

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 8, and with the return to normalcy in most of society, it will be the first time in two years the holiday receives its just due as families enjoy sharing gifts, having lunch together and throwing parties for Mom.

Memorial Day falls, as is customary, on the last Monday of the month, the 30th this year — a time to pay respects to those who gave their lives to support our God-given freedoms. This year, there is a Memorial Day Observance on Tuesday, May 31, 10 to 11 a.m. at Moorpark Veterans’ Memorial, 608 Spring Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021. Call the American Legion at (805) 750-0095 for more information.

Above both mothers and veterans is the One our country’s founders called “the Supreme Judge of the World” in our nation’s Declaration of Independence — that is, “divine Providence.” The National Day of Prayer was established in American tradition by President Harry S. Truman in 1952. His announcement read, in part:

“WHEREAS from the earliest days of our history our people have been accustomed to turn to Almighty God for help and guidance … I deem it fitting that this Day of Prayer coincide with the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which published to the world this Nation’s ‘firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.’”

Thus, the first National Day of Prayer was celebrated initially on July 4, 1952. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed Public Law 100-307, designating the first Thursday in May (May 5 this year) as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer.

The National Day of Prayer will be celebrated locally at Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park on Wednesday, May 4, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., the evening before the actual Day of Prayer (see godspeak.com/events for details).

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