To the Editor:
An event that slipped by recently with no mainstream media coverage was National Bible Week.
This has been celebrated during Thanksgiving week every year since 1941. President Roosevelt hosted celebratory events at the White House, and NBC radio network scheduled a national radio broadcast for Dec. 7. This broadcast was interrupted with news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The network executives asked National Bible leaders to continue reading from the Bible throughout the day, in between reports of the attack.
The president of the United States is the honorary chairman of National Bible Week, and he usually issues a message.  President Ronald Reagan proclaimed 1983 the Year of the Bible. President George H. W. Bush declared 1990 to be the International Year of Bible Reading. President Bill Clinton delivered a proclamation concerning National Bible Week.  President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush were honorary co-chairs in 2008.
Sadly, this president chose not to participate in National Bible Week.
In August, he celebrated Ramadan by hosting a banquet in the State Dining Room of the White House, highlighting the contributions of America Muslims. I would have liked to have seen him give at least equal time to National Bible Week. He also issued a proclamation that declared Nov. 19-25 to be National Farm-City Week.
A typical Bible Week proclamation recognizes the Bible as the “foundational document of the Judeo-Christian principles upon which our nation was founded” and “a constant source of moral and spiritual guidance for Americans throughout our history” — a book with significant influence on the country’s art, literature, music and laws.
I will never forget one incident when I was a child, sitting in a Wednesday evening service at our small country church. The pastor turned out all the lights and said, “What would happen if we Christians suddenly had this book that we cherish so much taken away from us? Would we have enough of the word in our hearts to sustain us?” He then had us stand up, one by one, in the dark, and quote a verse or verses we had memorized.
As more and more of our rights and privileges as Christians are being taken from us, let us not forget to cherish the Bible, the word of God, not on our coffee tables, but in our hearts.

“So the hammers of infidels have been pecking away at this Book for ages, but the hammers are worn out, and the anvil still endures. If this Book had not been the Book of God, men would have destroyed it long ago. Emperors and popes, kings and priests, princes and rulers, have all tried their hand at it; they die and the Book still lives.”
H. L. Hastings

Tommy and I would like to extend warm wishes to you and your family this blessed season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
— Tina Melton