Marian McQuade might not be a household name, but she was one of two people who helped launch a Holiday to honor Grandparents across the country.

The first was Jacob Reingold. In 1961 during the White House Conference on Aging, Jacob Reingold of Hebrew Home at Riverdale NY, was inspired by a speech about a new image of the aged. So he worked to get a special day for grandparents to be recognized on September 16, 1961 at Hebrew Home. In 1963 it became an official holiday for the borough of the Bronx, NY.

In 1970 Marian McQuade of West Virginia advocated for a special day to recognize grandparents. By 1973 she had worked with business, faith, political and civic leaders to convince Governor Arch Moore to hold the First Grandparents Day in West Virginia.

In 1978 the US Congress proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day. President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation.

Call Up Your Grandparents to Reconnect

Americans are living longer and the life after retirement seems to become longer as well. Senior Citizens sometimes withdraw from what they used to enjoy when they were working. Their children and grandchildren need to respect and spend more time with them to learn about the triumphs of the past and educate each other as grandparents mentor future generations.  Even if you no longer have living grandparents, older neighbors certainly can benefit from periodic visits from their younger neighbors. You can learn from each other.

Grandparents and Elders have a wealth of knowledge that they’d love to share with their grandchildren and neighbors. Call them or stop by to see them on this #ProLifeSunday.

This article paraphrased elements from the following website. https://grandparentsday.org/grandparentsweek/about— admin