RYAN CLOUD/Middlesboro Daily News Lovie Stallworth, MD, gave the prayer for family at the National Day of Prayer program in Middlesboro.

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RYAN CLOUD/Middlesboro Daily News A prayer for the government was delivered by State Rep. Rick Nelson at the service in Middlesboro.

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RAY WELCH/Middlesboro Daily News Praying for the brave men and women serving in the nation’s military at the National Day or Prayer service in Harrogate was Retired Sgt. Doug Gwaltney, Marine Reserves, Combat Engineers.

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RAY WELCH/Middlesboro Daily News Laura Robertson, a senior at Cumberland Gap High School, read the proclamation from Governor Bill Haslam declaring May 3 as National Day of Prayer in Tennessee.

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Citizens from Middlesboro, Pineville, and Harrogate, Tenn. gathered at noon Thursday to celebrate the National Day of Prayer. The theme for the 2012 National Day of Prayer was “One Nation Under God”, with Psalm 33:12 as the scripture, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”.

National Day of Prayer is celebrated on the first Thursday in May each year, as designated by Congress.

In Middlesboro, citizens gathered at the city parking lot, while other Bell County residents gathered at the on the Pine Street steps of the Bell County Courthouse. The Harrogate service was held at Harrogate City Hall.

Each service had represenatives offering prayers for the church, family, government, education, military, first responders, media, business community, youth, natural resourses, and the nation, as well as a prayer of

repentance.

The National Day of Prayer has been an annual event in the country for many years.

On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each following president at an appropriate date of his choice.

n 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May. Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world. It was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on May 5, 1988.