The morning sun was just starting to peek out from behind the clouds Wednesday when students at Starr's Mill High School began gathering around the flag pole. The scene was repeated at campuses all over Fayette County, and around the world.

The students and their teachers came together to pray in observance of “See You at the Flagpole,” an annual event which last year drew about three million students across the United States and in 20 countries. Quietly, boys and girls walked toward the circle which formed in front of the flagpole, dropped their backpacks and joined in song as a student strummed his guitar.

“It's cool that you're here and standing up for your faith,” said Anna Leary, a senior and former president of the Fellowship of Christian Students and Christian Athletes.

Emily Willis, a math teacher at Starr's Mill and sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Students, started off the spontaneous prayer. “Thank you, for each and every student who has come out and showed their peers that they believe in you,” Willis said.

A student chimed in, “Give us the power to change our school and our world...” Another voice added, “Pray for our community... soften the hearts of the world.”

With heads bowed, many with eyes closed to the traffic building on the road leading up to the school's entrance, the students continued their intercessions.

Altogether about 60 students and teachers took part in the morning prayer service at Starr's Mill. Across the lawn were another 40 or so students at Rising Starr Middle School holding hands in twin circles, having their conversations with God.

Last year, Starr's Mill students observed the prayer service on a practice field. “We didn't have a flag pole yet,” Willis said about the county's newest secondary school.

The first “See You at the Flagpole” prayer day was in 1990, initiated by a Southern Baptist church youth group in Burleson, Texas. The idea caught on and traveled across Texas and eventually spanned the country and the globe. Because it is a student-organized and student-led event held before class time, it is legal in terms of mixing church and state.

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