The National Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Congress in Washington, D.C. since 1953, serves as an assembly to build relationships and camaraderie.
U.S. Service members, civilian employees, retirees and family members gathered for a similar event of fellowship and prayer at the annual National Prayer Breakfast hosted at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Feb. 7, 2018.
During the event, service members joined one another in giving thanks and praise to those who fought and continue to fight for the nation and its allies.
Chaplains from JBLE read scriptures and prayers for the nation, the Armed Forces and military families. Music was provided in both English and Spanish by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Dale Lopez, JBLE senior religious affairs NCO, and Dave Gholson, Bethel Temple Church pastor in Hampton, Virginia.
"I've learned over the years that you can never move forward successfully without looking backwards seriously," said U.S. Army Col. Darrell Thomsen Jr., Fort Eustis deputy garrison chaplain, as he introduced the guest speaker for the breakfast. "Dave Barton has committed himself to looking backward, seriously, so that we can be on the right track as we move forward here in America."
David Barton, Wallbuilders organization founder and president and guest speaker for the breakfast, provided a detailed history of prayer and religion throughout the U.S. military since 1775.
"The military has always had a spiritual side to it from the very beginning," said Barton. "We have about 400 years of military history and as you go through and look at that history, there's a clear spiritual element."
Barton provided examples of spirituality in the military, such as proclamations written by U.S. presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; prayers spoken on national television from U.S. presidents during times of war; and bibles provided to service members serving overseas.
The ceremony concluded with a prayer from U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brian McCormack, 633rd Air Base Wing chaplain.