[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

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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.
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.
GEORGE W. BUSH

PROCLAMATION 7784--MAY 7, 2004

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