Grandparent’s Day
While there are a number of
holidays dedicating to celebrating the family, arguably one of the most
important holidays is Grandparents Day.
Although Grandparents Day has not been established or is as popular as
Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, it is an important holiday that allows people to
reconnect with their family’s history.
Celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day every year, Grandparent’s
Day traces its roots back to the work of Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade.
The purpose of Grandparents
Day can be traced in these three principles:
- A chance to honor grandparents.
- Allowing grandparents the opportunity to show
love to their grandchildren.
- Provide children the opportunity to become aware
of the strength, information, and guidance that older people are able to
offer.
In 1970, the campaign to set
aside a special day for grandparents began due to the diligence of Marian
Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginian housewife. The mother to fifteen
children and grandmother to forty grandchildren, Mrs. McQuade had a long
history of working with senior citizens.
Her campaign to create a national Grandparents Day immediately gathered
attention and obtained the support of West Virginia Senator Jennings
Randolph. In three short years after
her campaign, West Virginia became the first state to celebrate Grandparents
Day. That year, Senator Randolph
introduced legislation for the holiday to the Senate. Popular support swelled up for the holiday and by 1978, Congress
passed legislation for Grandparent’s Day.
President Jimmy Carter signed the resolution into law and September was
chosen as the month for this holiday, as it signified the autumn years of life.
Grandparents Day is truly a holiday for the entire family. Children should visit their grandparents, as
grandparents are always happy to be visited by their family. It’s a time where
family history can be discussed and the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren
should be strengthened. Considering how
confusing a time childhood and adolescence can be, it’s always in the best
interests of young people to have a great relationship with their grandparents,
as they offer a place to go for advice.
Additionally, Grandparents Day is a time where kids tell grandma and
grandpa that they love them, as everybody knows humans love to be told that
they’re loved.
Grandparents Day is also a
time where Americans should take the time to look at a common problem faced by
the elderly: being a shut-in. Aging is
a natural human process however old age can be cruel, particularly for those
who are unable to be with their families or have no families. Many senior citizens spend all of their times
alone in their homes or in nursing homes and a major initiative within
Grandparents Day is adopting a grandparent.
Considering the work of Mrs. McQuade who helped persuade President
Richard Nixon to proclaim a National Shut-in Day, Grandparents Day should be a
time where Americans reach out to the elderly and show their appreciation to
this often neglected segment of the population.
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