MAY 1, 2014 – NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER – LOYALTY DAY – SILVER STAR SERVICE BANNER DAY – LAW DAY – NATIONAL DAY OF REASON – NATIONAL CHOCOLATE PARFAIT DAY – MAY DAY

                          NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

The National Day of Prayer is held annually on the first Thursday in May.  This day of observance, designated by the United States Congress, asks people “to turn to God in pray and meditation”. The modern law formalizing the annual National Day of Prayer observance was enacted in 1952 and each year since, the president of the United States has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

 Prior to 1952, there were a few other individual National Days of Prayer in United States history.

• July 20, 1775 – The Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending “a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer” be observed.
• In 1795 –  George Washington proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
• May 9, 1798 – John Adams declared this day as “a day of solemn humility, fasting, and prayer”.
• March, 1863 –  On March 3,  Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional resolution, during the Civil War, which called for April 30, 1863 as a day of fasting and prayer.

The theme for National Day of Prayer 2014 is “One Voice, United in Prayer”,  https://nationaldayofprayer.org/about/theme-and-verse/

To read more about National Day of Prayer, see : https://nationaldayofprayer.org/about/

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                                     LOYALTY DAY

National Loyalty Day is observed annually on May 1.  This day is set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.

There are communities that celebrate National Loyalty Day with parades and ceremonies.

NATIONAL LOYALTY DAY HISTORY

First observed in 1921 as “Americanization Day”, this holiday was intended to counterbalance the celebration of Labor Day on May Day.  On July 18, 1958 it was made on official holiday by the U.S. Congress (Public Law 85-529).  President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1, 1959 the first official observance of Loyalty Day.  This day has been recognized with an official proclamation every year, by every president, since it’s inception as a legal holiday in 1958.