THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF WEST VIRGINIA CONGRESSWOMAN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO.

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today approved legislation authored by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to authorize a commemorative Mother’s Day coin in honor of the national holiday and the West Virginia woman credited with its founding.

“Mother’s Day is a special day for mothers across our country, but it has a special meaning for those of us in West Virginia,” said Capito. “Beginning with Mrs. Anna Jarvis in Taylor County, Mother’s Day provides an opportunity for all of us to honor the women who have had such an important impact on our lives. With this coin, we’ll now have an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Mothers Day, along with West Virginia’s role in the holiday’s founding.”

Jarvis began her quest to establish Mothers Day after the death of her mother in 1905, and was also instrumental in seeing that the first official Mother’s Day service was held at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia in 1908. West Virginia Governor William Glasscock then issued the first Mother’s Day Proclamation two years later, encouraging everyone in the state to attend church and wear white carnations in honor of their mothers.

In her continued advocacy for a national Mothers Day holiday, Jarvis succeeded in pushing the U.S. Congress to approve a resolution in May of 1914 to designate the second Sunday in May as a nationally recognized Mother’s Day holiday.

Designed to celebrate and honor American cultural history, the proceeds on sales of commemorative coins are used to fund and support philanthropic efforts.

The minting of the commemorative Mother’s Day coins will take place in 2014 to mark the 100 year anniversary of Mothers Day, with proceeds benefiting two national charities: the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness and treatment.

Capito’s measure is co-sponsored by 297 members of the House of Representatives, including Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV). Companion legislation sponsored by Senators Rockefeller (D-WV) and Byrd (D-WV) was also recently introduced in the Senate, where the bill must now go for consideration. The House-passed bill also follows a resolution passed last year by the West Virginia legislature that called on the U.S. Congress to approve a Mother’s Day commemorative coin.