National Grandparents Day is rooted in the innovative work of two committed and passionate pioneers: Jacob Reingold and Marian McQuade. During the 1961 White House Conference on Aging, Jacob Reingold was inspired by a speech concerning the “new image of the aged” and focused on recognizing the role of millions of older Americans who are grandparents. In 1970, Marian McQuade began a campaign to establish a special day of recognition for grandparents. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. Their work culminated in 1978, when the United States Congress passed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. A presidential proclamation was signed by President Jimmy Carter and thus began the observation of this special holiday. In 2013, Grandparents Day falls on September 8. How are you helping your child tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents this Sunday? Did you know that the “Forget Me Not” is the official flower of Grandparents Day? Grandparents Day is a time to Do Something Grand! It is a call to action for grandparents and people of all ages to join together and advocate on behalf of America’s future: our children and youth. For more information and ideas, visit: grandparentsday.org/
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 03:00:19 +0000
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