Mt. Prospect's salutes public service during Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer was marked in Mount Prospect Thursday with the 11th annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, and Mayor Irvana Wilks hopes it is not the last.

Wilks was interviewed Wednesday by National Public Radio, which did a story about the seemingly murky future of the National Day of Prayer, given that a federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled it unconstitutional where it is a government-sponsored event.

Wilks told NPR that people look forward to the annual breakfast because it gives them a glimpse into other faiths than their own.

"We all fall short, especially when we're elected officials, and we all really need those prayers," Wilks said.

"It's a day that lives on in people's memories," she added. "They'll mention to me, 'I love that speaker; it was so inspirational.'"

A theme of Thursday's breakfast was public service, as the keynote speakers were two of Mount Prospect's 2010 Shining Stars, William and Dolores Shillington.

Shining Stars are residents honored each year for their work to better the community.

The Shillingtons were invited to talk about their longtime volunteer work for the Salvation Army, which has includes many trips for diaster relief at home in Illinois, as well as trips to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and elsewhere.

Presented by the Mount Prospect Interfaith Council and Mount Prospect Chamber, it was held at Bristol Court Banquets in Mount Prospect, and hosted by Mayor Irvana Wilks.