Letter: Please honor older Americans in your communities
As a member of the Washington State Council on Aging, I am asking you to join me, my fellow members and Gov. Jay Inslee in honoring older Americans during the month of May.
A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to his designation of the month of May as “Senior Citizens Month.” Every president since Kennedy has issued such a formal proclamation, currently named “Older Americans Month,” proclaiming that the entire nation pays tribute in some way to older persons in their communities.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Blaze a Trail.” May is a month of fresh beginnings. Perennial flowers across our land bloom once again, blazing a trail of bright color, inspiring us to acknowledge and celebrate the perennial contributions of older adults to our states and to our nation.
Older Americans Month also offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access the home and community-based services needed to live independently in their communities. Gov. Inslee has issued a proclamation acknowledging Older Americans Month.
Let’s join him across our beautiful state in celebrating our older citizens.
Phillip Lemley, Director, State Council on Aging, Richland
This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Letter: Please honor older Americans in your communities."