National Day of Prayer Breakfast

Members of the business, civic, cultural and faith sectors from throughout the DFW area will join the Interfaith Council of Thanks-Giving Square for the 28th annual original National Day of Prayer Breakfast to hear Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Brigadier General Cecil R. Richardson speak on "Prayer as our Tradition".

The event will take place Thursday, May 1 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., in Ballroom A of the Dallas Convention Center located opposite Dallas City Hall at the intersection of Akard & Marilla. The Breakfast is open to the public, and cost to attend is $30 per person, with students and seniors paying $15. Persons of all faiths, cultures and generations are encouraged to attend.

Designed to foster unity and understanding among the many communities of our diverse Metroplex, the program will explore a tradition that began more than two hundred years ago with Continental Congress Proclamations during our Revolutionary War in the 1770's. It will highlight Thanks-Giving Square's and Texas' role in bringing that tradition back to a springtime day and include the singing of our National Anthem by Soprano Elizabeth Racheva.

The breakfast will start at 7:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 8:00 a.m. Prior to the keynote speaker, members of the Interfaith Council of The Thanks-Giving Foundation, which governs Thanks-Giving Square, will open the gathering with prayers unique to their traditions.

The Honorary Chairs for the Breakfast are Ronald Gafford, Bishop "DD" Hayes and David A. Neumann. As of today, the sponsors include: the Episcopal Hospital Chaplaincy Diocese of Dallas, Highland Park United Methodist Church, the Islamic Association of North Texas, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, & John K. Pearcy and the Charles Wyly Fund at the Communities Foundation.

Brigadier General Richardson began his career as Chaplain at the Little Rock Base in Arkansas in 1977. He was promoted to his present position and rank as Deputy Chief of Chaplains in 2004. Chaplin Richardson has just been selected to become Major General and assignment as Air Force Chief of Chaplains. The Air Force Chaplaincy includes more than 2,200 chaplains and assistants. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, Chaplain Richardson advises the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality of life concerns.