A forgotten holiday
On Sept. 8 a national holiday honoring a large segment of the Ameri can population will quietly pass with little recognition. Perhaps because it occurs on a Sunday and does not offer paid time off from work it draws little attention. But a more likely reason is that many people do not know such a day exists.
Let me share with you a little of its history. In 1969 a nine-year-old boy sent a letter to President Nixon asking him to institute a national day of recognition for grandparents. Although the president took no positive action to fulfill the boy’s request, there were others who responded. The idea of a national day of honor for grandparents and their generation resonated in the heart of Marian McQuade. She made it a personal crusade to see them receive recognition for their contributions to society.
Because of her efforts and other likeminded people, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation on August 3, 1978, establishing a holiday and setting its annual observance on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
The proclamation stated in part, “Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives. (They) fill some of the gaps in our mobile society. (They) provide a link to our national heritage and traditions. Grandparents possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy.” Grandparents provide stability for an increasingly confused and volatile society. They are a magnetic force drawing together scattered and sometimes fragmented families. In their “golden years” grandparents often step in when their children either by default or circumstances beyond their control do not live up to their parental responsibilities. They have given hope to an untold number of atrisk grandchildren by sacrificing hard-earned life savings and longanticipated retirement plans.
Not-for-profit service organizations rely heavily upon volunteer participation most often provided by those who have retired from a lifetime of work but feel they still have something of worth to give to society. Medical auxiliaries rely upon the support and participation of a generation who give freely of themselves and their time asking for nothing in return other than to know they are making a difference in the lives of others.
Grandparents are empowering resources in community and church life. They are generous with their gifts to worthy organizations. Often they are both the leaders and targets of fundraising events. Declining churches depend upon their steadfast examples of Christian love, leadership, and tithes to continue to exist and minister.
Grandparents, both biological and surrogate, are surely a national treasure. We salute and honor you and your generation for enriching our lives.
