This September 9th, families can get together and celebrate Grandparents Day, an officially recognized date, even though it is not considered a holiday. Grandparents Day was officially recognized on August 3, 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation declaring that the holiday would fall on the first Sunday following Labor Day.
The proclamation which recognized Grandparents Day stated that the purpose of the holiday was to both honor grandparents and give them an opportunity to show their affection for the grandchildren. Also, the day serves to allow grandchildren the ability to learn from the strength, guidance, and wisdom older people can offer.
Grandparents Day was originally intended by its founder, Marian McQuaid of Oak Hill, West Virginia, as a day when grandchildren could visit their grandparents in nursing homes to help alleviate loneliness. By 1973, after being prompted by Ms. McQuaid, West Virginia’s governor Arch Moore had decided that his state should recognized Grandparents Day.
That same year Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia introduced a resolution asking Congress to recognize the date on a national level. Though the resolution failed, Ms. McQuaid organized volunteers and supporters to help persuade governors of all the other states to similarly adopt Grandparents Day as a recognized day. By 1977, more than 40 states had already done so, and the presidential proclamation followed soon after.
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