Students gather around the flag for prayer

MAT-SU -- As people took their children to middle school or high school Wednesday morning, they may have noticed congregations of teens around the flagpoles in front of the schools.

The group were part of a national "See You At The Pole" movement.

The SYATP event is held on the third Wednesday of September annually. It brings together students for an organized prayer session at high schools and middle schools around the world.

At 7 a.m., students around the globe gathered in front of their schools on Sept. 19 to pray, celebrate life, and worship.

Students from most local high schools and several middle schools took part in the See You At The Pole event Wednesday morning, some burning candles, others singing songs and celebrating.

As one would expect, the main topic of discussion and focus of prayers this year was about the recent terrorist attack, and the state of world affairs. The prayers at schools were not limited to the attacks, however.

At Matanuska Christian School, students from preschool through high school turned out, and one by one, offered individual prayers.

Those in attendance said the event was very moving, and a testament to the leadership and caring nature of the students.

The See You At the Pole movement began in 1990.

A group of high school students in Burleson, Texas, gathered for prayer sessions around their school's flagpole early in the school year. They were not an organized school group, but instead were teens who cared about the world they lived in and wanted to make a difference.

As word grew about the gatherings being held in Burleson, the event spread to other towns and cities in Texas.

More than 45,000 students -- predominantly in Texas -- participated in the first event later that September.

The event grew fast following the first year. In 1991, more than a million students took part in the See You At The Pole event, in four states. Since then, it has grown exponentially every year.

This year, there were See You At The Pole events in all 50 states, as well as 20 countries, including Canada, Korea, Turkey, Japan and even the Ivory Coast.

The See You At The Pole event knows no particular denomination or group, either. It is supported by a diverse group of more than 100 denominations and nonprofit ministries, covering virtually every religious affiliation. At every event, people from several denominations get together for prayer and worship. Events are not divided along denominational lines.

Each See You At The Pole event is student-run and student-initiated.

Schools are not involved in the planning or execution of the event. Instead, student leaders organize and run the event every year.

The event has been challenged in court in the past, but the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the students' right to assemble on school grounds, much like other school groups do.

For more information, as well as student testimonials, people may visit the See You At The Pole Web site at www.syatp.org.

There are also links to See You At The Pole sites around the world.