Sunday, September 9 is National Grandparent’s Day. It is an annual national observance that always falls on the Sunday after Labor Day. Fayette, West Virginia housewife, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade (1917 – 2008,) came up with the idea to set aside a day in honor of grandparents in 1970. With the support of her husband and the help of local businesses, civic organizations, churches, and one politician – Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WVA,) she launched a local crusade to create Grandparent’s Day. It evolved into a statewide campaign.

The successful statewide campaign led West Virginia Governor Arch Moore to issue a proclamation in 1973, announcing the state’s first official observance of Grandparent’s Day. After the state established an official annual observance, Senator Randolph introduced a resolution in the United States Senate that would, if passed, create legislation that would establish an official National Grandparent’s Day observance.

Senator Randolph’s resolution languished in the Senate, but that didn’t stop Mrs. McQuade and her team of crusaders from taking their cause to the media and using every possible opportunity or platform to get the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would make the day an official observance and not a legal federal holiday. She never wanted that.

Mrs. McQuade’s tireless perseverance and hard work eventually paid off. Five years later, in 1978, Congress passed the legislation and President Jimmy Carter signed a bill, creating an official National Grandparent’s Day observance that would always be held on the Sunday after Labor Day. The choice of September was an important one. Fall begins in September, and it fit nicely with the life stage that seniors refer to as the “autumn years of life.”

Mrs. McQuade was no stranger to life as a grandparent. She and her husband, who died in 2001, had 15 children, 43 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. She envisioned three purposes for Grandparent’s Day.

1.To teach children to become more aware of and appreciative of the knowledge, guidance, and strength, they could get from older people if they allowed themselves to be open to receiving these gifts.

2.She wanted to have a day that was devoted to honoring grandparents.

3.She wanted to set aside a day on which grandparents could spend time with their children’s children and show their grandchildren how much they loved them.

If you’re looking for a bit if inspiration to help you find the perfect floral arrangement to give to a grandparent on Grandparent’s Day, we’re here to help.

Whether you’re trying to cheer a grandparent up or make them smile, you’ll accomplish your goal with our Bright and Stunning Bouquet. It is bursting with vibrant hued Gerbera daisies, roses and lilies. This cube will brighten their day and remind them that you care!

Our team of floral designers here at Central Square Florist will help you choose or create a flower arrangement to give or send to our grandparents.