The tradition of the National Grandparents Day was started by Marian McQuade, a housewife who lived in Flayette, West Virginia. McQuade's key motivation was championing the causes of lonely elderly people in nursing homes. Marian also had a hope of swaying grandchildren into tapping the heritage and wisdom their grandparents bestowed on them. In the year 1978, President Jimmy Carter first proclaimed that the National Grandparents Day was to be celebrated each year, the first Sunday following Labor Day. McQuade made educating youngsters on contributions made by senior citizens in society her goal. She went further convincing the young in adopting a grandparent for life and caring for them. The National Grandparents Day statute that was passed by the congress cites that the purpose of that day was in the honor of grandparents, to provide for them a chance of loving their grandchildren and assist them in realizing the information, guidance and strength old people are capable of giving. The official song for this great day is Johnny Prill's song ‘A Song for Grandma and Grandpa' with the official flower being the forget-me-not flowers

Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade began her campaign of setting aside this special day fro every grandparent in the year 1970. Initially, the campaigns were conducted through churches, political leaders and businesses but later they extended statewide. Senator Jennings Randolph was very instrumental in this great project. Before being officially proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter as a National Grandparents Day, Governor Arch Moore of West Virginia proclaimed the first Grandparents day in 1973. Senator Randolph went ahead and introduced a resolution for Grandparents Day in the Senate of the United States. Letters were sent to businesses, churches, and may other national organizations that had interest in senior citizens. Marian Lucille McQuade and Joe, her husband had 15 children who bore her 40 grandchildren plus 8 great grandchildren. Though her campaigns began in 1970, her work dated back to 1956. She worked tirelessly with various states. In 1971, Marian was elected as West Virginia Committee on Aging Vice-Chair and at the same time was elected by Governor Arch A. Moore as one of the Delegates in the White House Conference on Aging.

There are activities to be observed on this family day by senior organizations, churches and schools in honor of this day. A number of families hold family reunions and other hold small private family gatherings. Board games easy to play by both the old and young also add fun to family gatherings and enhance intergenerational interaction. Story telling times are also used in large family gatherings. As grandparents day approaches, grandchildren and children identify and date photos in old family albums. National Grandparents Day presents a perfect time for enhancing communication between generations. Special talents like cooking, quilting, and sculpting, are passed on to those displaying interest. Old family songs, dances and music and their origins and meaning are vital in maintaining the family background. Over years, the National Grandparents Day has reconstructed family trees providing children with the chance of learning the ancestral lines to their families. The Grandparents Day denotes loving spirits for the elderly living within families all through the year. Today, this great event started by just a few people has gained popularity and is commemorated by millions of people all through the United States.