MOTHER'S DAY - A Day Of Sentiment

(05/10/2015)
The West Virginia woman credited with creating one of the world's most celebrated holidays wouldn't want flowers, candy or gifts.

Before she died in 1948, Anna Jarvis fought against the increasing commercialization of Mother's Day.

She felt it should be "a day of sentiment, not profit."

It has become one of the nation's most commercial holidays.

Americans will spend $15 billion honoring mom.

Dining out is expected to be the number one expense.

The idea for Mother's Day came to Jarvis after she overheard her mother say it would be nice if someone created a memorial to mothers.

Jarvis' mother died in 1905, and three years later Jarvis organized the first official mother's day service in Grafton.

West Virginia became the first state to recognize Mother's Day in 1910.

President Woodrow Wilson approved a resolution in 1914 marking the second Sunday in May as the observance.

The U.S. Census Bureau says there are 85 million mothers in the United States.