Last month on Mother’s Day, We forgot to applaud the pioneering efforts of Anna Jarvis, native of West Virginia, born in 1854. Allow Us to mend our ways. Today.

Ms. Jarvis actively pursued the public recognition of Mothers, one and all, and their efforts to create and sustain their families and nation. In 1908, West Virginia led the other states in selecting the second Monday in May, a date that is still in use. In 1914 Mother’s Day was adopted nationally.

Ms. Jarvis eventually was disappointed by the commecial exploitation of the holiday. The orginal idea was to acknowledge Mothers everywhere. In time the date became a huge commercial venture, and Ms. Jarvis said so loudly and publicly. She spent her last nickel trying to rescind Mother’s Day, but sadly, with no success.