A Victory for ALL PARENTS!!
In 1998 and 1999, after doing months of research on Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations, I noted that the language reflects the biological, adopted and foster Mother and Father. With the new millennium upon us, things needed to be changed. We needed to honor ALL mothers and All fathers - Biological, Adopted, Foster, and Step. So I faxed President Clinton and asked him to revise the language to the Mother’s Day and the Father’s Day Proclamation. I remember feeling that my request may only be seen by a White House staff member and that would be the end. But I was wrong. I remember getting the phone call and then a Fax with the new revised language. President Clinton had honor my request. Watching my fax machine with such anticipation and seeing the cover letter coming through, revealing in big black letters, “The White House” and a picture of the White House. My heart was pounding. Although I knew that many Americans may not see or know about the language on a Presidential Proclamation, I knew that this Mother’s Day and Father’s Day would go down in history as the first to included ALL parents.
Then in my mail box, a large envelop, from the White House. President Clinton signed both proclamations and sent them to me. They are beautiful. They measure 11x20. The White House staff assuring me that they were personally signed by him.
President Bush did not honor the request. A request has been sent to President Obama for the 2010 Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations. I wonder if he’ll honor the request?
