Terri Brammer spent her lunch thinking about more than a noonday meal as she joined her granddaughter, Gracie, and daughter, Jennifer, at the Ironton City Center Thursday to show her support for the National Day of Prayer.

“I believe in the power of prayer,” Brammer, of Ironton, said. “Our community, our nation and our military need to be lifted up to God.”

The three generations of women were among a dozen people who were at the annual event where area ministers gave prayers for our government, church, the military, families, schools, media and business. This is the 60th anniversary for the nationwide event that began during the administration of President Harry S. Truman.

“It is in keeping with the tradition of our great presidents,” Dr. Wayne Young, pastor at First United Methodist Church, told the audience. “President Washington encouraged praying for the nation. President Lincoln and on down. It is a recognition that we are a nation under God so we have a right and a responsibility to call on him for our nation.”

Jeff Cremeans of the Ironton City Mission followed Young with prayers for the churches, asking for unity.

“We recognize there is but one God,” he said. “We may not always agree. May our churches be stronger. A church is not a building but a people.”

Brent Baker of Central Christian Church offered prayers for those in the armed services.

“Our God is alive and well and is protecting our military,” Baker said. “We need to drop our denominational wall and pray for our military and community. We know freedom is not free. It comes with a price. You have given men and women the heart to serve, the heart to win battles because they love this country.”

Rob Hale of the First Church of the Nazarene prayed for the family, especially those who have been hit hard by drug use of its members.

“We live in a world where it seems the family is under attack,” Hale said.

Before each prayer, the audience was given a few minutes to pray silently about the subject. The event then ended with a communal prayer for the nation asking God to “remember the prayers of our nation’s fathers and mothers and do not forget us in our time of need.”