By VICKIE JAMBON – Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – The 53rd annual National Day of Prayer was celebrated Thursday at the St. Charles court house.

This year’s motto was Let Freedom Ring – The freedom to gather, the freedom to worship, the freedom to pray.

At 11:30 a.m., The New Orleans Area Home School Association (NOAH) began playing patriotic songs to a crowd of onlookers, seated in lawn chairs strewn across the courthouse grounds.

William Roper, a parent of one of the NOAH musicians was there with his family and friends to watch his 11-year old-son, Shelby, play the trumpet. Roper said to gather for prayer was very important. He said, “Our president and our military need our prayers. We should pray for our nation every day.”

The Rev. Chuck Lowman, pastor of West St. Charles Baptist Church, spoke from a podium set up on the front pavilion of the public facility. He welcomed the crowd to the one and a half hour event and recited an opening prayer.

Anna and Ralph Hymel, members of Lowman’s church were there with other congregants to support their pastor and the freedom to pray. Anna Lowman said, she wanted to see the nation go back to the biblical views set up by our nation’s founding forefathers. “We need to rebuild the fabric of our nation for our children,” said Hymel.

Church ministers and various other individuals took the podium in turn, to offer prayers for the nation, our military, members of law enforcement, fire fighters, educators, churches and families.

St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque told the people that prayer provides an inner peace that comes from direct communication with the Lord.

Lowman then encouraged Americans of every faith to pray and to give thanks, he quoted national proclamations of prayer from various presidents. “Our leaders understand our need for prayer,” Lowman said.

The assembly then knelt in reverence for prayer by the Rev. David Roth of Des Allemands Mennonite Church, who prayed for God to bestow wisdom, strength and blessing upon our national leaders, our state leaders and our executive branch of government.

The Rev. Tom Logan of St. Charles United Methodist Church in Destrehan asked the people to hold hands in a symbolic gesture of unity. Logan prayed that Congress would seek the wisdom and guidance of God before making decisions.

When praying for the nation’s POWs and MIAs, John Clark asked that no one forget these brave men and women that are still unaccounted for. Clark said the sweetness of our enduring peace has come from their agony.

Yvonne Gaspard prayed for leadership and guidance for teachers in the education of children and she said, “The things taught today become the policies of our nation tomorrow.”

Other pastors participating in the event included the Rev. Paul Burke of Community Assembly of God Church in Bayou Gauche, the Rev. Steve Marze of Boutte Assembly of God Church, the Rev. Horace Lewis of Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Boutte, the Rev. Joseph Johnson of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Hahnville and the Rev. Todd Hallman of First Baptist Church in Luling.