[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING GLOBAL FAMILY DAY FOUNDER LINDA GROVER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2010

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, on February 20, 2010, we lost a dedicated 
and tireless voice for the pursuit of peace and global sharing and 
cooperation, Linda Grover. I joined Ms. Grover in the founding of 
Global Family Day, an effort to celebrate and promote harmony within 
the global family every January 1st, but it was Linda whose every 
undertaking was in the name of Global Family Day.
  Linda Grover, an author, writer, and activist, was resolute in her 
belief that all people, regardless of race, culture, religion, or 
economic status, celebrate life on earth together as one human family. 
It was in the promotion of this ideal, that Linda Grover and her 
children conceived Global Family Day, One Day of Peace and Sharing, an 
international holiday that would allow people around the world to 
engage in global fellowship.
  Linda's Global Family Day initiatives were supported by the Congress 
and United Nations. In 2000, the 106th Congress unanimously passed S. 
Con. Res. 138 and in 2006, the 109th Congress unanimously passed H. 
Con. Res. 317 and S. Res. 582. These Congressional resolutions urged 
the President of the United States to issue an annual proclamation 
calling upon the people of the United States to observe Global Family 
Day. In 1999 and 2001, United Nations General Assembly resolutions, 
UNRes54/29 and UNRes56/2, were passed, recognizing a day of peace on 
January 1st and encouraging Member states to observe the global 
holiday.
  This Congress, I introduced another Global Family Day resolution, H. 
Con. Res. 221. In this purpose, I was joined by Representative Dennis 
Kucinich and Senators Harry Reid and Daniel Inouye. It was Linda's 
hope, as well as ours, that there finally be a proclamation issued by 
the President asking that the citizens of the United States celebrate 
Global Family Day, thereby resulting in the Day's widespread 
observance.
  In advancing Linda Grover's legacy, we will continue to pursue this 
proclamation and recognize Global Family Day every January 1st. Just as 
Ms. Grover believed, I think that, despite our differences, each of us 
has an interest in pursuing peaceful solutions to many of our 
contemporary world problems. A better appreciation for one another, 
practiced at the start of a new year, can only lead to the eradication 
of human suffering that results from violence, hunger, poverty, and 
other social ills.
  Even in the weeks right before she died, Linda worked diligently to 
spread the Global Family Day message. Linda said, ``it's [Global Family 
Day] is going to improve our global attitude and give us a slightly 
better chance to overcome all these global crises that are demanding 
global solutions. Economy, Environment, Energy, Ethnic Enmity, 
Education, Employment, Epidemics--and those are just the ones that 
start with the letter E.''
  Linda's fight and determination to spread the message of peace and 
sharing through Global Family Day will be missed. However, I will work 
to make sure that the message is not forgotten. Linda is survived by 
three children, who I understand will continue their mother's work to 
champion Global Family Day, and I will join them in this effort. We 
must all understand, as Linda did, that by working together as one 
global family, we can better meet the challenges humanity will face in 
the years to come.

                          ____________________