National Grandparents Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| National Grandparents Day | |
| Observed by | United States and Canada |
|---|---|
| Type | National |
| Date | First Sunday after Labor Day |
| 2008 date | September 7, 2008 |
National Grandparents Day is a United States secular holiday celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The official song of National Grandparents Day is "A Song For Grandma And Grandpa" by Johnny Prill. The official flower is the forget-me-not.
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[edit] History
The history of Grandparents Day can be traced back to 1961 with the efforts of Mrs. Hermine Beckett Hanna. Hermine Hanna has been recognized nationally by The United States Senate, in particular Senator Alphonse D'Amato, and President Carter as the founder of National Grandparents Day. Hermine made it her goal to educate the young in the community to the important contributions senior citizens have made, and to the important contributions they are willing to make if asked. She also urged the young to adopt a grandparent, not for 1 day a year, not for material giving, but for a lifetime of experience and caring just waiting to be shared with others.
Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, W.V. is credited with lobbying for a national observance of Grandparents Day.
Also credited is Michael Goldgar of Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1979 Their efforts paid off, when President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 96-62 designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. 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."
Later that year, Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) introduced a resolution in the United States Senate to make Grandparents Day a national holiday. Five years later in 1978, Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day and then-President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation[1].
[edit] Canadian National Grandparents Day
National Grandparents Day began in Canada in 1995. Motion Number 273 moved in the House of Commons by Mr. Sarkis Assadourian read [2]:
That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider designating the second Sunday in September of each year as grandparents day in order to acknowledge their importance to the structure of the family in the nurturing, upbringing and education of children.
The motion was agreed to.
[edit] External links
- National Grandparents Day Council official page
- U.S. Code
- Grandparents Day Activities
- Grandparents Day Information from Grandparents.com
- The History of Grandparents Day (US and Canada)
[edit] References
- ^ Jimmy Carter: Proclamation 4580 - National Grandparents Day, 1978
- ^ Debates (No. 247). Debates of the House of Commons: 35th Parliament, 1st Session. House of Commons of Canada (October 25, 1995). Retrieved on May 11, 2008.
