The first National Day of Prayer began after a proclamation by President Harry Truman in 1952, and since 1988 the first Thursday in May is a day set aside to meditate about the role of people to things greater than themselves.
In Rhinelander, Pastor Rod Ankrom from Calvary Baptist Church in Rhinelander was among a group of speakers talking about the day in front of the Oneida County Courthouse...
"....the theme for this year was 'Wake Up America' and I think we really must do that. We must wake up, we must pray for America. Lets pray for our leaders, whether they be in the local government level up to our President...."
Evangelist Billy Graham led a weeks-long prayer “crusade” to Washington, and later that year, on Feb. 3, 1952, gave a speech urging Congress to introduce legislation establishing a National Day of Prayer. President Truman signed the legislation in April of that year.
