The U.S. National Grandparents Day is the 1st Sunday after Labor Day in September. In 2010, it falls on September 12th, and in 2011 on September 11th, also the anniversary of the 911 terrorism attacks. Marion McQuade of Oak Hill, West, Virginia, has been recognized nationally by the United States Senate, in particular by Senators Jennings, Randolph, and Robert Bird and by President Jimmy Carter.
As the founder of National Grandparents Day. McQuade made it her contributions seniors have made throughout history. She also urged the youth to adopt a grandparent, not just for one day a year, but rather for a lifetime. In 1973, Senator Jennings Randolph introduced a resolution to the Senate to make grandparents day a national holiday. West Virginia's governor Arch Moore had proclaimed an annual grandparents' day for the state at the urging of Marion McQuade. When Senator Randolph's resolution to the U.S. Senate died in committee, Marion McQuaid organized supporters and began contacting governors, senators, and congressmen in all 50 states. She urged each state to proclaim their own grandparents' day. Within 3 years, she had received grandparents' day proclamations from 43 states. She sent copies of the proclamations to Senator Randolph.
In February 1977, Senator Randolph, with the concurrence of many other senators, introduced a joint resolution to the Senate, requesting the president to issue annually a proclamation designating first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as national grandparents day. Congress passed the legislation, proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day, and on August 3rd, 1978, then President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation. The statute cites the day's purpose as, “To honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer.”
Another Warm Thought: re: forget-me-not. The official flower of the U.S. National Grandparents Day is the forget-me-not, which blooms in the spring. Seasonal flowers are often given in appreciation to grandparents on this special day. God bless grandparents, and may God bless America and our world.
Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G Werner.
Published in the Marion Record, September 8th, 2011.
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