Hats Off to National Grandparents Day!
I would be remiss not to mention this is the anniversary of 911 as we have come to know that horrific day 19 years ago. For those who remember the vision of the Twin Towers in New York City brought down by commercial aircraft taken over by terrorists, the sight is forever etched in our memories. That includes the Pentagon as well as another flight destined for California that went down in a field in Pennsylvania rather than hit another target in the capital, Washington, D.C. The families that lost loved ones will never forget that very dark time in our early 21st century history. How many of the families involved depended on grandparents to help them get through the days and months in the aftermath?
National Grandparents Day points to the importance of intergenerational relationships. This is a way to recognize and bring families and community groups together in a show of love and appreciation toward grandparents as well as other older special friends. It is a way to validate the role that these older people play in the lives of future generations. Is there anyone in your life who has had a positive influence on you?
There is an interesting story behind National Grandparents Day. It was proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 as the first Sunday after Labor Day and to be recognized on that day each year. The significance of the time of year was to draw attention to the “autumn years of life.” (As an aside, Frank Sinatra’s song, “September of My Years,” was released in November 1965, when he was 50 years of age.) The proclamation for Grandparents Day reads in part:
“Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions.”
The stated purpose(s) for National Grandparents Day are:
1) To honor grandparents.
2) To give grandparents an opportunity to show love to their children’s children.
3) To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.
It is amazing how singleness of purpose can advance a new development. The impetus behind National Grandparents Day was Marian Herndon McQuade of West Virginia. She and her husband Joseph McQuade raised 15 children. In all they had 43 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren during their lifetimes. They were married for over 60 years and both passed before 2010. Marian envisioned having a family day of private gatherings, family reunions, or community events. Her wish was to publicly confirm the importance of grandparents and the vital role they play in families. As a strong advocate for seniors, she was appointed as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. She started her campaign for a day to honor grandparents in 1970, working with civic, church, business and political leaders to launch the first day in her home state. It was her unending persistence that led to her larger goal of a national day, which finally came about in 1979.
It seems that Mrs. McQuade’s interest and concern for seniors was sparked by her own grandmother. Today, many of her children and grandchildren carry on her legacy, (you can find more information about National Grandparents Day at www.legacyproject.org). How many individuals do you know today who were or are being brought up by grandparents due to family struggles or the death of their own children? Or, how many families lived or live as intergenerational families?
My father grew up with his maternal grandparents, as well as two of his mother’s sisters and an older cousin he adored like a beloved brother. One of grandmother’s sisters never married but cared for her parents, and the other became a widow at a young age. My grandmother was the first person to give me an understanding of the family in which she grew up. It was only natural to dad that when his mother died, Grandpa and Great-Aunt Hattie would come live at our house. In particular, my grandfather was a gentle soul who would smoke a pipe using cherry tobacco. To this day, I love that smell! A tree at my familial home was planted in Grandpa Joe’s honor, given by the neighbors who all loved him as well. And, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren remember he had a stash of hard candies to hand out along with a bit of wisdom about life in general, his faith in God, and his younger years growing up on a farm.
Not all individuals have love and respect for their grandparents. Perhaps many never even met the individuals who are part of their DNA. How many people know that much about the lives of their grandparents? Did they struggle through hard times? Can you recognize physical traits or personality quirks you have that your grandparents had—or so you have been told? In truth, we all stand on the shoulders of parents and grandparents who have helped inform who we are today. We may consider that, both good and not so good, but it should give us pause to recognize how we came to be who we are today.
