[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 3, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 3CFR7557]

Proc. 7557

[[Page 87]]

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.

[[Page 88]]

          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