JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - –
Personnel gathered across Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, at the Langley Club March 25, and Fort Eustis Club March 26, to participate in a National Prayer Breakfast to celebrate a morning of prayer and scripture.
Once attendees filled their plates, chaplains from across the installation read Psalm 23 and gave prayers for national leaders, the U.S. Armed Forces, the nation and those in attendance.
The National Prayer Breakfast was established in 1953 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives to allow leaders to celebrate religious diversity.
"By gathering together, we are continuing to honor the purpose for which the prayer breakfast was intended, by celebrating our diversity with representatives from the many religious backgrounds that are present," said U.S. Army Chaplain [Lt. Col.] Jim King, Fort Eustis garrison chaplain. "We are united by our faith in God and our love for our country."
The guest speaker for the events was retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald "Digger" Odell, a fighter pilot and prisoner of war during the Vietnam war. During each event, Odell spoke about his experiences as a POW for 5 1/2 years in Hanoi, North Vietnam.
"I went through some horrifying things there and at times I didn't know if I was going to make it out alive," said Odell. "But I knew that no matter what happened, the Lord was looking out for me."
The events concluded with music played by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band Woodwind Quintet and the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band.
For more information or for religious services schedule, contact the Langley Chapel at 764-7847 or the Regimental Memorial Chapel at 878-1304.