Airmen unite for national prayer event

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash., --  More than 200 Airmen came together Monday at McChord's Clubs and Community Center as part of the National Prayer Luncheon.

Guest speaker Chaplain (Col.) Brian Van Sickle, Air Mobility Command chaplain, spoke about the audacity of hope, inspired by the book of the same title by Illinois Sen. Barrack Obama.

"We're in a long war and the loss of hope is brought upon when there is disappointment about the timeline for the end not being met," Chaplain Van Sickle said. "There are lots of demands put on us spiritually, which beg for the question 'how can I stay hopeful?'"

That hopefulness, he said, comes with seeing each base's chapel staff in action.

The 62nd Airlift Wing's "chapel staff is an exceptional team and they do a great job serving their Airmen," he said. "To see these guys' level of commitment and level of hope is a model for all of us. They are signs of hope."

The luncheon also gave Airmen a chance to bond with each other on a day set aside to help understand the important spiritual underpinnings that led to the foundation of the country, said Lt. Col. Brian Newberry, 7th Airlift Squadron commander.

"It's nice that we can have a day that we can get together to celebrate folks' faith and beliefs, because that's part of what makes this country strong," Colonel Newberry said.

A wide array of faiths were represented at the luncheon as Airmen read separate passages from the Torah, Qur'an and the Bible.

"I was particularly impressed with the three readings because it represents the diversity that makes America strong," Colonel Newberry said.

Chaplain Van Sickle's message of hope also struck a chord with Airmen in attendance.

"I wanted to get involved with whatever activities were involved with the day of prayer," said 2nd Lt. Jennifer Allardice, 62nd Contracting Squadron, "and it was neat to see that the AMC chaplain was going to speak."

The Senate and House of Representatives inaugurated Prayer Breakfast Groups in 1942. Eleven years later, the Senate and House Prayer Groups, along with President Eisenhower, established the Presidential Prayer Breakfast to seek divine guidance for the nation's leadership and to reaffirm faith and dependence in a higher power, according to the 62nd AW chapel staff.