Mother’s Day

A great Mother’s Day message from VB GOP Chairman Kenny Golden.

“The second Sunday in May is when we all pay special tribute to our Mothers and what they’ve meant to each of us. What most may not be aware of is that Mother’s Day began as a fairly political celebration. Mother’s Day celebrations were usually linked with the causes of women’s suffrage and peace activism. After the Civil War, Mother’s Day celebrations centered around worker health and safety.

In fact, early Mother’s Day celebrations in England were created when child labor was common, and it was a day that children could stay home rather than working.

The United States’ first nationally recognized Mother’s Day was in 1914, though many states celebrated Mother’s Day. In the spirit of true bipartisanship, I’ll even acknowledge that the first Mother’s Day was proclaimed by a Democrat.

But Mother’s Day has centered on the importance of Mothers in all of our lives and the richness their guidance and love provides to all of us. One of my most memorable Mother’s Days occurred half a world away in the Persian Gulf on of all things a ship in my Task Force, Amphibious Task Force West. We were on our way to Australia after completing the initial stages of Iraqi Freedom. It was a happy time and many of us just wanted to go home, but in the Navy you must go where your are sent, Mom’s, Dad’s, Uncles, Aunts and yes even Grandma and Grandpas too.

One of my ships was the USS PEARL HARBOR and she was unique, not just for her name also for the make up of the crew. She was manned at the 50% level for females, and 50% males. The Commanding Officer was a young male, and his Exec was a female. Total crew, about 300. Because it was an unusual deployment and because of the crew’s makeup, they decided Mother’s Day needed to be very special and they wanted a full trimmings luncheon for all the Moms and the Commodore needed to be the speaker. I was delighted but when I arrived and discovered over 50 Moms, I was overjoyed. Needless to say, I spoke about their dedication to their country and their families and what a sacrifice.
Then it dawned on me to ask, “How many of you are single Mothers. Nineteen courageous women raised their hands and all of us raised our glasses to them and their unique sacrifice. Not one single complaint nor request to go home early was heard. I have always been very proud of CDR. Dale Fuller’s crew but I was especially proud that Mothers Day in 2003.

As President George W. Bush said in his Mother’s Day proclamation this year, “Through their positive examples and countless acts of kindness, mothers teach the values of generosity and compassion and the importance of family and community.”

I echo President Bush in his sentiments. Let us all take time this Mother’s Day to reflect, remember and celebrate the special bond that is motherhood, and celebrate our commitment to honoring that bond, and pledge to ensure that motherhood will always remain honored and respected. ”

Category: Catch-All