Base hosts annual National Prayer Luncheon Published March 2, 2007 By James Baker Skywrighter staff WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- More than 450 patrons counted their blessings and came together in prayer Wednesday at the National Prayer Luncheon held at the club, an annual event at Wright-Patterson AFB. The 88th Air Base Wing Chaplain Capt. Dwayne A. Jones opened the ceremonies and then provided the crowd with words of hope and wisdom. "Everyone needs to respect one another and pray together for our nation we love," he said. "We are here to unite the military community and to ask God to watch over us and watch over our troops." After the Wright-Patterson AFB Honor Guard presented the colors, Kay Anderson, Cheryl Cunningham and Cheryl Short sang the national anthem. Distinguished guests in attendance included local Chamber of Commerce members and mayors from Fairborn, Beavercreek, Troy, Jamestown, Oakwood, Xenia and Moraine, as well as Col. Colleen M. Ryan, the 88th ABW commander. Scheduled speaker Rev. Floyd H. Flake was unable to make the event because of problems with his flight out of Chicago. Air Force Materiel Command Chief Master Sgt. Steve Schumpert said the gathering was a positive step in the right direction. "I think it is a great thing for everyone to come together and break bread and pray," the chief said. "We can live together in peace and harmony and learn we can be different. If everyone looked at it this way, we would all be in a much better place." For the past several years, Air Force retiree Vanetta Bellows has helped put on the event and said she was ecstatic with this year's large number of attendees. "I was extremely pleased with the turnout this year," she said. "We couldn't believe we actually had to turn people away. The luncheon solidified our unity and purpose and our unity of faith and basic fellowship."