Grandparents Day

In 1978, Grandparents Day was officially established as a national holiday to be observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Marion McQuade, a West Virginia housewife, is considered to be the founder of the day. Ms. McQuade initiated the campaign to set aside a day to honor grandparents in 1970. Ms. McQuade enlisted the assistance of civic, church, and political leaders to bring the holiday to fruition. In 1973 the then Governor of West Virginia, Arch Moore, proclaimed that Grandparents Day was a state holiday. Also in 1973 the concept of Grandparents Day was introduced to the U.S. Senate by West Virginia Senator Jennings Randolph. The resolution to proclaim a national holiday didn’t have as much support nationally as it had received at the state level and the resolution stalled in committee. Ms. McQuade again rallied her support team and they began contacting representatives from every state in the union to gain support for the resolution making Grandparents Day a national holiday. In 1978, the U.S. Congress finally passed the resolution. The proclamation was signed by then President Jimmy Carter.

Of interest, is the reason the month of September was selected to house the holiday. It was felt that the month of September, which was considered to be the beginning of the fall season was appropriate because it was significant of the “autumn years” of life. A time, seen by many as the period of life when people relish in the joys of grandparenting. The purposes noted in the resolution regarding Grandparents Day were to: 1) honor grandparents, 2) give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their families, and 3) to help children and society become aware of the strength, information, and guidance that older people, particularly grandparents, can offer. Grandparents Day offers a unique time to learn not only about family history, but to foster and encourage an appreciation for the perspective that experience and age can offer the generations to follow.