WASHINGTON - "It says something about us as a people for 61 years now that this great prayerful tradition has endured," said President Barack Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Feb. 7, 2013.
Approximately 1,200 miles away, more than 300 Team McConnell members gathered in the Robert J. Dole Community Center Ballroom March 7, for the 2013 McConnell National Prayer Breakfast.
The National Prayer Breakfast, held in Washington, is an annual event hosted by members of the United States Congress. It is designed to be a forum for the political, social and business societies to assemble and build relationships.
Since the inception of the National Prayer Breakfast in 1953, several U.S. cities and states, in addition to other countries, have established their own prayer breakfast events.
Although there was no set theme, Bishop Michael Jackels, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, spoke on the importance of unity within not only one's faith family but with one's work environment as well.
"Unity is something that each of us, regardless of our faith, can not only focus on but also contribute to strengthening our family," said Jackels.
Members of the chapel team echoed Jackels' sentiment.
"In order for us to successfully accomplish the mission," said Chaplain (Capt.) Quentin Genke, 22nd Air Refueling Wing protestant chaplain, "unity is essential in the Air Force. However, unity doesn't mean we can't have our individual personalities, likes and dislikes. It does mean that we have the ability put aside our individual preferences for the sake of the whole."
The 22nd ARW Chapel helps keep Team McConnell's spirit refueled by offering Protestant and Catholic worship services every Saturday and Sunday.