Mother's Day, 2004

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.

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