Grandparents Day

Grandparents are very special people in the life of a child. They are ones who pamper him the most and, at the same time, instill moral values in him. They are always there to protect a child from the anger of his parents, while making sure that he does not take the wrong path ever. It is in honor of the adorable grandfather and grandmother than Grandparents Day is celebrated throughout the world. It is the day on which children thank their grandparents for all that their love and support. Parties, gifts, picnics, outings and the like are some of the most common aspects of Grandparents Day celebrations.

 

Going back in history, we can tell you that the initiative towards the declaration of Grandparents Day was taken in 1970, by Marian Lucille Herndon McQuadem, a housewife in West Virginia. She undertook the effort to get support of people, including civic, business, church, and political leaders, for getting a day set aside only for the grandparents. Soon enough, the campaign expanded to become a statewide event. Amongst all the people who enlisted their support for the campaign, the name of Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) is definitely worth mentioning.

 

The efforts of Marian Lucille Herndon McQuadem, Senator Jennings Randolph and all the others connected with the campaign bore fruit. In 1973, Governor Arch Moore proclaimed the first Grandparents Day, in West Virginia. The same year, Senator Randolph introduced a Grandparents Day resolution in the United States Senate. However, it continued to languish there, without much interest being shown for it. Marian Lucille again started campaigning for the day and this time, enlisted the support of media, along with governors, senators and congressmen in every state.

 

Churches, businesses, and numerous national organizations also started showing interest in the declaration of a special day for grandparents. The efforts continued for the next five years and finally, in the year 1978, United States Congress passed a legislation, which proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. The proclamation was signed by President Jimmy Carter and since that year, Grandparents Day is being celebrated all over the world, on the first Sunday after Labor Day. In 2008, National Grandparents Day will fall on 7^th September.