The Statesboro Exchange Club's annual "One Nation Under God" prayer luncheon included veterans, active duty and retired service members and area pastors and ministers, who all enjoyed fellowship and celebrated a project that began in 1964. The One Nation Under God project was created specifically to build a greater respect for the Pledge of Allegiance, but its mission also includes "to promote increased use of the Pledge in schools and at public gatherings; to combat all efforts to remove the words ‘under God' from the Pledge; to encourage and promote religious services by local churches on Thanksgiving Day or Thanksgiving eve; to promote attendance at such services to members and non-members; and to prayerfully thank God for the blessings of liberty bestowed on America." Harold Piet, minister of Pembroke Christian Church, captain of the Patriot Guard Riders and a retired Army veteran with 20 years of service, was the keynote speaker at the event.