Thoughts on a New August Holiday
I’m thinking about an unacceptable situation. There are no holidays to celebrate in the month of August in the USA. There are no days off, no parties, no holiday sales ... just business as usual.
I know there are many days in August highlighting various subjects, but none of them are holidays. However, one of these days caught my attention and should be a candidate for a new national holiday. It’s Senior Citizens Day, which takes place on Aug. 21.
National Senior Citizens Day honors our elderly population. On this day, we are encouraged to recognize and show our appreciation for the value and contribution of elderly people to home, family and society.
In a presidential proclamation (Aug. 19, 1988), President Ronald Reagan said, “For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older.”
Some might take exception and claim the sorry state of the country today is a consequence of unwise actions of senior citizens in their earlier years.
I’m also thinking this claim could be a good motivation to younger citizens. They should pay attention to advice by senior citizens in order to avoid the errors senior citizens made and the opportunities missed when they were younger.
I propose National Senior Citizens Day be made an official holiday. I am asking everyone, not only senior citizens, to urge their senators, representatives, and the media to support this proposal.
Why am I seeking action like this at a time when we should be doing something about the unacceptable discord in the country?
My thoughts are, this effort might open a channel of awareness and friendship to counteract the negativity and hatred overwhelming this nation.