More than 100 individuals showed up to the Long County Courthouse on Thursday to participate in the National Day of Prayer.

The day is nationally recognized, and Long County citizens have gathered annually for years to mark the day in their own way.

Local pastors and community members alike met to pledge to the American flag, sing "God Bless America" and pray for the nation’s future as a whole.

Robert Long and Sherry Long, who are distantly related, are the brains and backbone of the event. They said they feel strongly about it and that turnout has grown every year.

"This event is important to me because our nation was founded on Godly principles," Sherry Long said.

"We need to pray and seek to bring our nation back to a godly nation all the way from the White House down to our local leaders," Robert Long said. "This event is not just a mandatory event for the city; it’s a choice for us. We choose to come together and pray."

A new theme is incorporated into the event every year. This year’s was "Wake Up, America" in light of all the political and leadership changes happening around the nation.

Six pastors spoke; Robert Long of Grace Baptist Church, Terry Sellars of Faith Baptist, Steve Davis of Jones Creek Baptist, Matthew Massey of Trinity Baptist, Eric Rentz of First Baptist and Greg Bentley of Elim Baptist Church.

They focused on praying for the Godly leaders in politics and churches. They encouraged Christians to stand up for what they believe in a way that is not hateful but firm because that is what the Bible says.