Executive Proclamation State of South Dakota
Office of the Governor
Whereas, Civic and national days of prayer have a long
and venerable history in our constitutional republic, dating back to the First
Continental Congress in 1775; and,
Whereas, The Declaration of Independence, our first statement as
Americans of national purpose and identity, made “the laws of Nature and of
Nature’s God” the foundation of our United States of America, and asserted that
people have inalienable rights that are God-given; and,
Whereas, The Supreme Court has affirmed the right of state
legislatures to open their sessions with prayer, and the Supreme Court and the
United States Congress begin each day with prayer; and,
Whereas, In 1988, legislation setting aside the first Thursday in
May in each year as a National Day of Prayer was passed unanimously by both
Houses of Congress and signed by President Ronald Reagan; and,
Whereas, The National Day of Prayer is an opportunity for
Americans of all faiths to join in united prayer to acknowledge our dependence
on God, to give thanks for blessings received, to request healing for wounds
endured and to ask God to guide our leaders and bring wholeness to the United
States and her citizens; and,
Whereas, The 2007 theme, “America, Unite in Prayer” was chosen to
reaffirm the importance of maintaining the moral underpinnings that have been
fundamental to our society since America’s inception; and,
Whereas, It is fitting and proper to give thanks to God by
observing a day of prayer in South Dakota when all may acknowledge our blessings
and express gratitude for them, while recognizing the need for strengthening
religious and moral values in our state and nation:
Now, Therefore, I, M. Michael Rounds, Governor of the state of
South Dakota, do hereby proclaim May 3, 2007, as
A
DAY OF PRAYER
in South Dakota, and I urge all citizens to
participate in local community activities to recognize this special day.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of South
Dakota, in Pierre, the Capital City, this Eighteenth Day of
April in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.
