2008 'Mother of the Year' Honored at Mother's Day Centennial Anniversary

GRAFTON, W.Va., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Anna Jarvis Birthplace
Museum, in partnership with the International Mother's Day Shrine, has chosen
Margaret Cox, Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) Grand Madam President (GMP), as
'Mother of the Year.' Cox will be honored at the holiday's
100-year anniversary, at the Mother's Day Founder's Festival, featuring
ceremonies held Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11.
According to Olive Dadisman, Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum Director, Cox
was chosen based on her dedication to her family, the less fortunate and
national civic organizations. "We were impressed by Margaret because of her
work for St. Jude's and for being an excellent mother, wife and community
servant. Not only is she a loving mother of four and a grandmother, but
Margaret cares for numerous children with her charity efforts."
Cox chose St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as her presidential
charity, and will spend approximately 300 days of her year-long term traveling
to FOE auxiliaries throughout the country. More than $53,000 has been raised
to date. "I chose St. Jude because it's unlike any other pediatric treatment
and research facility," Cox said. "Discoveries made at St. Jude's have changed
how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases."
Anna Jarvis is considered the 'Mother of Mother's Day.' In 1908, at the
Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church -- home of the Mother's Day Shrine --
Jarvis convinced the pastor to dedicate the Sunday service to all mothers. In
1914, Jarvis persuaded President Woodrow Wilson to designate Mother's Day as
an official national holiday. The Fraternal Order of Eagles were also early
advocates of Mother's Day; in 1904, Past Grand Worthy President Frank E.
Hering, the 'Father of Mother's Day,' made the first known public plea for the
holiday.
Cox became a charter member of auxiliary #3274 in Kingsport, Tenn., in
1988. The mother of four served in many offices at the national, state and
local levels, including Grand Madam Trustee and Grand Madam Vice President,
all leading to her current role as Grand Madam President of the 1.1 million
member organization.
For more information on the International Mother's Day Shrine, visit
http://www.mothersdayshrine.com/ , and to learn more about the Anna Jarvis
Birthplace Museum, visit http://www.annajarvishouse.com/ . For more
information about the FOE, visit www.foe.com .
SOURCE Fraternal Order of Eagles

Jen Whiteleather of Fahlgren Mortine, +1-614-825-1763,
Jennifer.whiteleather@fahlgren.com, for Fraternal Order of Eagles