[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 34583-34584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12230]



[[Page 34581]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part V





The President





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Proclamation 7557--Mother's Day, 2002
 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 14, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

 ___________________________________________________________________

 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 34583]]

                Proclamation 7557 of 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.

[[Page 34584]]

                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.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-12230
Filed 5-13-02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P