[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 19 (Monday, May 13, 2002)]
[Pages 786-787]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7557--Mother's Day, 2002

 May 9, 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.
    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.
                                                George W. Bush

[[Page 787]]

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 13, 
2002]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on May 
14.