Mother's Day, 2002

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Part V

The President

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Proclamation 7557--Mother's Day, 2002

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Title 3--
The President

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.

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