[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 26471-26472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10912]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 92 / Wednesday, May 12, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 26471]]


                Proclamation 7783 of May 7, 2004

                
Mother's Day, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ``The mother is 
                the one supreme asset of national life; she is more 
                important by far than the successful statesman, or 
                business man, or artist, or scientist.'' Today, mothers 
                continue to be an important part of our national 
                character. On Mother's Day, we honor the women whose 
                steadfast love and wisdom have made America a better 
                place.

                During the Civil War, Julia Ward Howe, author of ``The 
                Battle Hymn of the Republic,'' proposed renaming July 4 
                as Mother's Day and a day dedicated to peace. Anna 
                Reeves Jarvis also began working for a similar holiday 
                and sponsored a Mother's Friendship Day in her hometown 
                to reunite families divided by the war. It was not 
                until 2 years after her mother's death that her 
                daughter, Anna M. Jarvis, started the campaign for the 
                observance of Mother's Day in the United States. By 
                1911, Mother's Day was observed in nearly every State 
                of the Union, and in 1914, responding to a joint 
                resolution of the Congress, President Woodrow Wilson 
                officially designated Mother's Day a national 
                observance.

                Motherhood is a rewarding and often difficult job. A 
                mother is a child's first teacher and affects a child's 
                life like few others can. Effective mothers can inspire 
                their sons and daughters to love themselves and others, 
                work hard, make healthy choices, serve causes greater 
                than self, and achieve their dreams. Mothers who 
                protect, teach, and nurture their children with all 
                their hearts strengthen their families and help build a 
                better future for our country.

                This Mother's Day, we express our heartfelt thanks to 
                our mothers for their unconditional love and guidance. 
                We take time to recognize the many mothers who are 
                supporting their brave sons and daughters in the Armed 
                Forces, and the many others who are themselves serving 
                proudly in defense of America's freedom and security. 
                The service and sacrifice of these women reflect the 
                best of our Nation. They and their loved ones are in 
                our thoughts and prayers.

                The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 8, 
                1914, as amended (38 Stat. 770), has designated the 
                second Sunday in May each year as ``Mother's Day'' and 
                has requested the President to call for its appropriate 
                observance. In honor of all of our Nation's mothers, I 
                am pleased to do so.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 9, 
                2004, as Mother's Day. I commend mothers for the 
                important contributions they make to our society and 
                encourage all Americans to express their love, 
                gratitude, and respect for mothers, and to honor their 
                mothers on this day and throughout the year.

[[Page 26472]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand four, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-10912
Filed 5-11-04; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P