Willapa Chapter DAWN

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Eleanor Roosevelt Day
Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Eleanor Roosevelt at the United Nations, on March 27, 1958 said: Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home--so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world, Yet they are the world of the individual person....Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.

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The year 2007 was the thirteenth anniversary of passage of the Eleanor Roosevelt resolution by a subordinate (local) Grange, the Washington State, and the National Grange. The first public observance of the date was in 2003, in Pacific County, State of Washington, August 10/11/12, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. On one day the second weekend of August, Willapa DAWN began simply with a small, annual rural county gathering. One day each, 2003, 2004, 2005 we began by collaborating with the Willapa Valley Grange #527 in honoring a US citizen woman . . . until Congress can be persuaded to do so.

Slightly over 100 Gray's River Grange members in Wahkiakum County in spring 1994, followed by over 60,000 in the state of Washington at convention in summer and exceeding 300,000 Grange Members across the United States in fall the same year, with Resolution 94-62 committed themselves to the Second Monday in August honoring Eleanor Roosevelt. Senators and Representatives in Washington, DC were asked politely, to name the day officially (not even as a national holiday) since no woman citizen is honored on our national calendar. The new House Rules Committee, (all but one, Republicans) quickly passed a law, No more commemorative days. The female district representative from Southwest Washington who had alerted them, was not re-elected to a second term.

A statue of Eleanor Roosevelt now holds its rightful place at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, dedicated in spring 1997 in Washington DC. Fifty long years it took for the memorial to be completed, after Congress had introduced a resolution in 1946 to establish a commission for its development, but still the widow of the president -- called by him A magnificent partner -- remains a footnote to the population of the country she served so well. Eleanor Roosevelt has never received full recognition in her own right. In her time she was a shining representative of dedicated women everywhere in her own country, and example for the world. More visibly than any other, she personified the selflessness and strength of pioneer women of every ethnic persuasion serving their families and communities down through the ages. A day of honor on the annual calendar would serve as well the women of every race and creed who received her support during the bad days of the Great Depression and later, World War II . . . and their descendants. Nor did Mrs Roosevelt discriminate against men, helping them to find employment and better housing in times of family impoverishment, and going to see them personally in the dangerous places they served during the time of war. Widowed and old, she answered the call of her late husband's successor, President Harry S Truman, to serve the world through her work in the United Nations. And she served better there than anyone could have expected, despite those who early on would not show her the respect she deserved, only because she was female. October 1996 was Roosevelt History Month. Interested persons might write the: Committee for Roosevelt History Month, 1250 - 24th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20037, or call: 1-202-857-7810, to ask support for the honoring of the helpmate of FDR as well.

A small town of 1500 population honoring women who contributed much to the community and state, is South Bend, the county seat of Pacific County. Two small parks within city limits fronting on the coastal highway 101, are named for women. One for Margaret Olson, the other for Helen Davis. Margaret Olson a retired business owner. Helen Davis was also a business woman, who wrote our beloved, melodic state song, Washington, My Home. With a whole 28 days each year as Black History Month, and over two months dedicated to the patron saint of retailers, Santa Claus, WHY ARE FEMALES OF ALL COLORS, who represent half the population, flagrantly denied even one day of national recognition . . . by those we have elected to represent us in Washington DC?

Following what Eleanor Roosevelt tried to accomplish in the way of health care covered by Social Security the way it was done in Europe --in which her president husband blocked every effort-- Enough! proposes we these many decades later, reform a health care system which has become a disaster for everyone concerned. The providers including doctors, hospitals and pharmacies, and clients no longer patient.