By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

Stephanie Villanueva of Roselawn gets emotional as she carries a cross Thursday during a ceremony marking the National Day of Prayer. The Cincinnati Enquirer/CRAIG RUTTLE

Thousands of Greater Cincinnatians gathered Thursday all over the city to celebrate their freedom of religion and to pray.

The National Day of Prayer brought people to prayer breakfasts in Butler and Warren counties, to courthouse gatherings in Clermont and Hamilton counties, and to church celebrations in Northern Kentucky and elsewhere.

A prayer march from the World Peace Bell in Newport to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center struck at the theme of this year's National Day of Prayer, "Let Freedom Ring."

At Butler County's Commissioners Prayer Breakfast in Hamilton, the menu had prayer and patriotism. More than 400 people attended.

"I felt the presence of God here," said Ellen Campbell of Hamilton, who has attended the Prayer Breakfast in years past. "It's such a blessing because the Bible says that God blesses the nation that prays. It really blesses me to come, and I know God is happy."

In Hamilton and all over the area, soldiers serving abroad were in prayers. The pledge was led by three Hamilton military men, Army Capt. Derrick King and Army Sgt. Jesse Isaacs, both of whom recently returned from Iraq; and Navy Ensign Stephen Rogers.

"It's more meaningful this year because I'll be leaving and based on what's going on in the world," said Rogers, who soon will be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. "It's nice to take a step back from the military aspect of it and look at the big picture."

Many in the crowd said they were moved by guest speaker Paul Schenk, a Washington, D.C., minister and former vice president of the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative advocacy group.

"We need prayer now more than ever. We must not be afraid to pray together," said Schenk. "It unites us in humility and prepares us for action. We have to pray and work together. That is what sustains our civilization."

The event ended with a performance of "God Bless America" by 8-year-old cellist Jade Kurlas, who was adopted at age 1 from China by a Fairfield Township couple.

"The men in uniform today were symbols that remind of us battles we must fight," said Butler County Probate Judge Randy Rogers, who organized the event with his wife, Nancy. "This little girl is a symbol of hope."

E-mail kvance@fuse.net