(White House-AP) May 1, 2003 - People across the nation, including in the Midlands, took time out Thursday to observe the National Day of Prayer.

President Bush says the war in Iraq has been a time of testing and intense prayer for Americans. Before departing for the Pacific, where he delivered  Thursday night's speech from the aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln," Bush hosted a National Day of Prayer event at the White House.

A special prayer rally began at noon at the South Carolina Statehouse. Governor Mark Sanford, Representative Denny Neilson, and Columbia's Chief of Public Safety and Acting City Manager Charles Austin were on hand for the event.

Governor Sanford says men and women serving in the military has put a renewed focus on prayer, "In some ways that crisis in the Middle East has brought back the significance of prayer."

Elizabeth York, who has been with the National Day of Prayer in South Carolina for ten years, says the day takes on added significance, because her son is serving in the Middle East, "We're very proud of him. We're grateful that he's willing to give his life for us to have this freedom to day."

Chelsea Jones, a junior at Columbia High School, said she attended the observance at the Statehouse to pray for her generation and the schools in the Midlands, "I believe that this is the generation that God has called to do his work."

Similar observances were held on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon and in communities nationwide. Bush said that Americans who prayed for the safety of US troops and innocent civilians in Iraq are praying now for lasting peace and the recovery of the wounded.

Reporting by Catherine Reynolds
Updated 5:51pm by Chris Rees