In 1970, Marian McQuade, a West Virginia woman who advocated for the elderly, initiated a campaign to establish a day to honor grandparents.
Her home state became the first state to enact such a day in 1973. In September 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill designating the Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day beginning in 1979.
The proclamation read in part,
“The elders of each family have the responsibility for setting the moral tone for the family and for passing on the traditional values of our Nation to their children and grandchildren. They bore the hardships and made the sacrifices that produced much of the progress and comfort we enjoy today. It is appropriate, therefore, that as individuals and as a nation, that we salute our grandparents for their contribution to our lives.”
Activities and tips
Grandparents Day is an opportunity for multiple generations to be intentional in their efforts to interact. Click here and here for downloadable activities you can use to celebrate Grandparents Day with the ones you love.
