"Over the last seven years, our country has faced many trials. And time and time again we have turned to prayer and found strength and resilience," Bush said at the morning event. "We prayed with those who've lost everything in natural disasters, and helped them heal and recover and build. We prayed for our brave and brilliant troops who died on the field of battle. We lift up their families in prayer."

The observance was the eighth consecutive year Bush has spoken in the White House on the National Day of Prayer. He was joined in the East Room by members of his Cabinet, members of Congress and military chaplains. ...