Grandparents Day falls on September 13th this year. It’s been said that some not so well-known special days or holidays were created by greeting card companies or florists as a business opportunity. Referring to several Internet sites, I found out the real story behind Grandparents Day.

Marian McQuade founded Grandparents Day in 1973 in West Virginia and spent the next five years getting all the states onboard. It officially became a national holiday in 1978 when President Carter signed the bill of proclamation. The date, chosen to signify the beginning of the “autumn years” of life, falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day each year. Marian McQuade’s husband, Joe, worked as a coal miner and after 60 years of marriage, died in 2001. He served as a behind-the-scene supporter for his wife and her efforts. Marian died in 2008, and at the time the McQuade’s had 15 children, 43 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

As a child, Marian walked miles with her grandmother, visiting elderly shut-ins in their West Virginia farming community. Those trips inspired her life-long commitment to the elderly. One of Marian’s goals was to educate younger generations to the important contributions senior citizens have made and are willing to make if asked.

Teachers can easily follow suit by finding ways to honor these special people. Even though school will have just started, there are many creative and very simple ways to honor grandparents. For example, teachers can invite grandparents into their classrooms to talk with the kids. Churches often honor Moms and Dads on their special days, so why not extend that celebration by recognizing and thanking God for the gift of grandparents? CTA too offers plenty of meaningful and very affordable Living a Legacy gifts. CTA even offers a free Living a Legacy Ministry Message that you might use as a Sunday message, a devotion, or even an insert in that Sunday’s bulletin. A free bulletin insert that includes a short responsive prayer is also available. For other suggestions or to learn more about National Grandparents Day, visit http://www.grandparents-day.com.