LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the celebration of Mother's Day,
Sunday, May 10, 2015, in honor and recognition of all mothers throughout
the State of New York

WHEREAS, Mother's Day is a day selected to celebrate "Mom"; it is the
one day out of the year to praise and pay tribute to mothers, and all
other women who have taken on that role and acted as a mother figure in
their children's lives, including those being raised in a single parent
home, whether it be an aunt, stepmother, grandmother, friend or Big
Sister; and
WHEREAS, These amazing women show great strength and selflessness, as
well as spend countless hours offering their love, support and guidance
to the children in their lives, acting as role models and inspiring them
to develop to their fullest potential; and
WHEREAS, Led by their example, children learn principles of hard work,
compassion, personal responsibility, and service; a mother's encourage-
ment and her unconditional love and support builds a foundation for the
necessary confidence and values that are crucial to our children's
success; and
WHEREAS, The modern American holiday of Mother's Day was first cele-
brated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Graf-
ton, West Virginia; her campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized
holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her beloved mother,
Ann Reeves Jarvis, died; and
WHEREAS, Anna Jarvis' mission was to honor her own mother by continu-
ing work she started and to set aside a day to honor mothers, "the
person who has done more for you than anyone in the world"; and
WHEREAS, Anna's mother, Ann Jarvis, was a peace activist who cared for
wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and created Mother's Day
Work Clubs to address public health issues; and
WHEREAS, Due to the campaign efforts of Anna Jarvis, several states
officially recognized Mother's Day, the first in 1910 being West Virgi-
nia; four years later, Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation creating
Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor
mothers; and
WHEREAS, Mother's Day was adopted by other countries and is now cele-
brated all over the world; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to pay tribute and commend
these women who sacrifice daily to ensure their children have every
opportunity to pursue their dreams, who are worthy of full recognition
for their valued contributions, and who should be celebrated by all the
citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the celebration of Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, 2015, in
honor and recognition of all mothers throughout the State of New York.