MOM’S DAY: “It was while Frank Hering was a young professor of
history at Notre Dame University that he had the idea for which he
is remembered as the ‘Father of Mother’s Day.’
Our history of tomorrow’s “holiday” is provide by Ann Moore of
Bradford Aerie 2432 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the
organization credited with creating this special event.
The story begins in 1902 when Mr. Hering entered a classroom on
the campus. Students were writing penny postcards to their mothers,
something they did one day a month – “mother’s day.”
Mr. Hering thought it was a good idea – good enough for
nationwide circulation. He was a charter member of the South Bend,
Ind., Fraternal Order of Eagles, and so he pitched the idea to the
organization for an annual recognition of mothers.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles took up the crusade. The idea
spread rapidly and gripped the hearts and imagination of people
from every walk of life. All across the nation, Eagles clubs began
to set aside a day to honor mothers and motherhood.
In 1907, Ann Jarvis of Philadelphia began campaigning for a
Mother’s Day. She chose the second Sunday of May as a tribute to
her own mother who had passed away on that day. It occurred to her
that this would be in the season of blue skies and blossoms.
Springtime would be a great time to annually honor Mother’s
Day.
In 1912, the Eagles internationally passed a statute calling for
observance of Mother’s Day by every Eagles Club. Two years later,
Congress sent a resolution to the president asking him to proclaim
the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
On May 10, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued that
proclamation.
“Public tribute to Frank Hering and the Eagles was far reaching.
In 1925, the American War Mothers invited Mr. Hering to give the
keynote address for the Mother’s Day services at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier. In 1929, they gave him their highest honor, the
famous Victory Medal, which bore the inscription ‘Father of
Mother’s Day.’
“In 1930, a radio talk given by Sen. Clarence Dill of the state
of Washington was read into the congressional record. It stated in
part, ‘The American people owe Mr. Hering and this great fraternity
a debt of gratitude which can only be repaid by renewed reverence
for mothers.'”
