National Grandparent's Day
Sometimes, it's easy for us to put aside, or forget, why National Grandparent's Day came to be. What was the reason for its creation? Whose dream was it for all Americans to take the time to honor their grandparents and those in their community?
Well the founder of this special day was a lady called Marian McQuade, a West Virginian housewife and stay-at-home mom of fifteen children.
She was a huge advocate of providing care for the elderly, raising awareness of the loneliness that folks suffer with when they're older - house-bound or in nursing homes, and asking us to simply open our eyes and see how much wisdom and heritage our grandparents still have to give.
As a young girl, she had visited elderly neighbours with her own grandmother, taking them small gifts or food - and she continued to devote her time to the older people in the community after raising her own children.
In 1970, she began campaigning in West Virginia for a special day to recognise Grandparents, and in 1973 the state governor Arch Moore proclaimed May 27 that year, to be the first Grandparents Day.
Her crusade continued, and she moved her campaigning nationwide, until finally in September 1978, she received a call from the White House. President Jimmy Carter had just signed a bill designating the first Sunday following Labor Day as National Grandparents Day, beginning in 1979!
Because it wasn't introduced until the late 1970s, there are no old time radio shows relating to this special day. However, there was one show which popped into my mind, and it's one of my all time favorites. It's called On Borrowed Time, and is about Gramps and Granny Northrup, and their orphaned grandson, 'Pud'.
There are three versions of On Borrowed Time on RUSC, from Best Plays, Theater Guild on the Air, and the Screen Guild Theater, with Lionel Barrymore reprising his role of Gramps from the 1939 Metro Goldwyn Meyer movie. All three of them are fabulous productions, so I hope you'll be able to find a moment to listen.
You can listen to more 'Grandparent' related shows here.
There are many, many elderly who aren't fortunate enough to have family nearby, so on 12 September this year, give a thought to the folks in your own neighbourhood. Maybe there's someone who might appreciate a little company for half an hour, a helping hand in their home, or maybe even a selection of old time radio shows from RUSC for them to listen to. You could make their day, month or even their whole year!
Happy listening my friends,
P.S. A subscription to RUSC is a wonderful gift to give to somebody. Unlike many presents it is something they can enjoy every day. It's healthy, entertaining, and can be very informative and educational. If you'd like to send a RUSC gift subscription to a loved one, friend, relative, neighbour or colleague just 'Click Here'.