National prayer breakfast honors heroes

  • Published
  • By Airman Basic Sondra M. Wieseler
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The National Prayer Breakfast was held Feb. 7 at the Desert Sands Club on Holloman Air Force Base. The theme for this year was 'Who are your heroes?'.

The guest speaker was Col. (Chaplain) Gerald A. Houge, Air Force Special Operations Command chaplain from Hurlburt Field, Fla., who was stationed at Holloman AFB for three years.

"It was great to be back, and it is one of the friendliest places on earth," he said.

Chaplain Houge has organized 14 prayer breakfasts and has spoken at five of them. His speech emphasized this year's theme as he spoke about heroes in his lifetime and in others.

"[The National Prayer Breakfast] gives us a chance to gather and take a moment to reflect on our spiritual foundations and celebrate all people's right to believe as they choose," said Chaplain Houge.

All members of Holloman were invited to participate, regardless of religious preference. Many participants felt that this was the most important part of the gathering.

"It's wonderful when we can come together, respect each other and not be offended because someone has different beliefs than ourselves," said Capt. (Chaplain) Matthew F. Boyd, 49th Fighter Wing. He is the protestant chaplain at Holloman and was in charge of the National Prayer Breakfast. "We're still brothers and sisters."

"We come together as one rather than separate religions," said Airman 1st Class Sabrina C. Garcia, 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who read an excerpt from the Torah.

A few different presentations were performed at the event, some out of honor and some simply for entertainment.

The Holloman Honor Guard posted the colors followed by the singing of the National Anthem. Mrs. Ashley James, wife of Airman 1st Class Jamel B. James, 49th Communications Squadron, sang "I Can Only Imagine" while playing the piano. After breakfast was served, the Alamogordo Ballet Folklico Dancers performed.

At the end of the event, everyone joined in the singing of "God Bless America," which reminded everyone of the real reason they participated in this year's National Prayer Breakfast -- to honor heroes, whoever they may be.

"With good attitudes and with heroes, we'll make it," said Chaplain Houge. "No matter what life throws at us, we'll make it."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a former general officer, introduced the first Presidential Prayer Breakfast after it was proposed by the United States Senate and House of Representatives in 1953. In 1970, the name was changed to the National Prayer Breakfast.