Grandparents have long been heralded as important influences in the lives of children. Although this fact had been acknowledged and honored in literature, arts and in homes around the world where extended families were once the norm, it wasn't until the 1970s that grandparents were celebrated with their very own day of recognition. The journey to obtain this observance was long and difficult, but thanks to the persistence of one woman the dream became reality.
In America, National Grandparents Day traces its roots back to the 1970s. In 1970, it is said that Marian McQuade of West Virginia began a campaign to have a single day a year set aside as an observance of the importance of grandparents in society. To help her along the way, McQuade enlisted support from community, business, church and even political leaders. Before long, her efforts received statewide attention. By 1973, in fact, Sen. Jennings Randolph had joined the campaign and worked with McQuade to get West Virginia's governor, Arch Moore, to proclaim the very first Grandparents Day.
While state-level success was quite a boon, McQuade did not stop there. With Randolph's help, a resolution was introduced to the United States Senate that would proclaim a national day for grandparents. Although the resolution didn't make it out of committee right away, McQuade and her supporters did not give up the cause.
To further the efforts for a National Grandparents Day, McQuade turned to the media for help. They also launched a targeted national campaign. Writing governors, senators and representatives from each state and other powerful players, they managed to gain the attention they needed.
By 1978, the efforts paid off. The United States Congress passed the legislation in that year and President Jimmy Carter passed it into law. The proclamation states that the first Sunday following Labor Day will be National Grandparents Day in America. The purpose of the national observance is simple. It is meant to honor grandparents and give them a special day to show their love for their offspring. It is also meant to honor the importance of grandparents in our society and the positive and strong influence they have on the young. The holiday even has its own song and official flower - "A Song For Grandma And Grandpa" and the forget-me-not.
McQuade was seen by many as the ideal leader for a campaign of this magnitude. As the mother of 15 children and the grandmother of 40, she was a busy housewife who made the time not only for her children and grandchildren, but also to make a difference in her community. She worked tirelessly on behalf of the elderly and, in fact, once served as the vice chair of the West Virginia Committee on Aging. She also served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. In addition, she was instrumental in getting President Richard Nixon to proclaim a National Shut-In Day in 1972.
As a national observance dedicated to the celebration of family, Grandparents Day had a rocky start. The day owes its founding to the tenacity of one lady from West Virginia who understood the importance of family and its elder leaders.
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