For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 9, 2002
Mother's Day, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Mothers are central to the success of the American family. Their
love, dedication, and wisdom touch countless lives every day in every
community throughout our land. And their love and guidance of children
help to develop healthy and spiritually sound families.
President John Quincy Adams once said, "All that I am my mother
made me." President Abraham Lincoln believed, "All that I am or hope
to be I owe to my angel mother. I remember my mother's prayers and
they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."
These statements are just as true for the millions of Americans who
credit their mothers for helping to successfully shape their lives.
Millions of American mothers are at work in communities across the
United States, improving the lives of their families and their
neighbors through countless acts of thoughtful kindness. They
energize, inspire, and effect change in homes, schools, governments,
and businesses throughout our country. By their example, mothers teach
their children that serving others is the greatest gift they can give.
Nearly 100 years ago, Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia helped establish
the first official Mother's Day observance. Her campaign to organize
such a holiday began as a remembrance of her late mother, who, in the
aftermath of the Civil War, had tried to establish "Mother's Friendship
Days" as a way to bring unity and reconciliation to our Nation. In
1910, West Virginia became the first State officially to observe
Mother's Day. The idea caught on quickly; for just over a year later,
nearly every State in the Union had officially recognized the day. In
1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first Mother's Day
proclamation, stating that the observance serves as a "public
expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."
On this special day and throughout the year, our mothers deserve
our greatest respect and deepest appreciation for their love and
sacrifice. I especially commend foster mothers for answering my call
to service, volunteering their time and their hearts to aid children in
need of a mother's love. To honor mothers, the Congress, by a joint
resolution approved May 8, 1914, as amended (38 Stat. 770), has
designated the second Sunday in May as "Mother's Day" and has requested
the President to call for its appropriate observance, which, as the son
of a fabulous mother, I am pleased and honored to do again this year.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim May 12, 2002, as Mother's Day. I
encourage all Americans to express their love, respect, and gratitude
to mothers everywhere for their remarkable contributions to their
children, families, communities, and our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth
day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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