A Struggle and Dream In Remembrance of All Mothers

Celebrated every year, Mother's Day is an occasion when individuals express

their love and respect that they have for their mother. The "Mother" of

Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, was instrumental in making Mother's Day a national

holiday, which began in the United States as a call for peace, and as

influential people joined the campaign, it quickly caught on.

Anna Jarvis (1864-1948), of Philadelphia, crusaded for the creation of an

official Mother's Day in remembrance of her mother and in honor of peace. She

began a letter-writing campaign to a variety of influential people that made

Mother's Day a national holiday. Anna and her supporters began to write to

ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a

national Mother's Day and in 1912. Anna Jarvis quit working and devoted

herself full time to the creation of Mother's Day. Anna's mother died in May

of 1905, when Anna was 41 years of age. Anna persuaded her mother's church

in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary

of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. The Mother's Day International

Association was incorporated for the purpose of promoting the day and its

observance. Anna handed out flowers at her Methodist church in honor of her

late Mother.

Anna's dream came true when on May 9, 1914, the Presidential proclamation

declared the 2nd Sunday of May to be observed as Mother's Day to honor the

mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother'

s Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those

mothers whose sons had died in war. Anna missed her mother very much and

felt that children should appreciate their mother's more while they're still

alive. Anna hoped Mother's Day would increase respect and love and strengthen

family bonds. Anna had hoped for a day of reflection and quiet prayer by

families, thanking God for all that mothers had done. Anna Jarvis' own mother

was a role model of domestic nurturing and other household responsibilities

and she was the inspiration of the national holiday.

Women, especially mothers, such as Anna Jarvis face new challenges in society

today, but motherhood remains a lasting influence on us as individuals and as

a nation. Celebrate this year's Mother's Day with great zeal and enthusiasm

by showing your appreciation for your mother by selecting a personalized gift

at The Personal Treasures that she will surely cherish forever.