By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

Thousands of Greater Cincinnati teens will gather at flag poles before school Wednesday to pray.

Fifteen years after its inception, the See You at the Pole National Day of Student Prayer continues to bring teens together.

"It's very special to me. It just shows that no matter what age you are, you can pray, and you can be a leader in your walk with God," said Amanda Rankin, 17, a Milford High School junior.

In Northern Kentucky, teens will gather at the Fellowship of Believers Church, 6800 Hazel Court, Florence, for a pre-pole rally from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday . The event is put on by Fusion, a group of local church youth groups.

"It's just a great opportunity to have all the different schools in Northern Kentucky come together to start with worship and then pump up for the next day," said Brent Reed, the music coordinator for student ministries at the church. "We'll really be focusing on the importance of making prayer a part of every day."

And in Clermont County, four schools will gather to pray for the country and troops overseas Wednesday evening.

Rankin, the leader of Milford's First Priority Club, and the leaders of three other area high school clubs have organized the rally.

Teens from Milford, Glen Este, Amelia and Turpin high schools will gather at 7 p.m. in a field at 1033 Old Ohio 74, across the street from the First Baptist Church of Glen Este in Union Township.

While many of the prayers at morning rallies will address the war in Iraq, the organizers of the evening rally plan to make special tributes to three Clermont County soldiers: Paul Brondhaver, Matt Maupin and Charles Kiser.

Brondhaver is trying to attend and speak, but if he is unable, his wife, Lisa, will speak instead, said Bob Johnson, the youth minister at the church.

"It's student-initiated and led, and it's for the students," Johnson said. "They want to say there's a group of students in Clermont County who take a stand for what is right, take a stand for Christ and know him personally."

About the event

See You at the Pole began in a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas, in 1990 with a grassroots prayer event.

In 2003, more than 2 million teens participated in all 50 states and more than a dozen countries on six continents.

In its 15th year, the theme this year is "Ascend: Clean Hands. Pure Heart," quoting Psalm 24:3-4 that those with "clean hands and a pure heart" may enter God's presence.

For more information, visit www.syatp.com.