IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 426 
Expressing support for the designation of the Thursday before Thanksgiving 
as ‘‘Children’s Grief Awareness Day’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2013 
Mr. DOYLE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of the Thursday 
before Thanksgiving as ‘‘Children’s Grief Awareness Day’’. 
Whereas 1 in 5 children in the United States will experience 
the death of someone close to them by age 18, and 
1,900,000 youngsters under age 18 have lost one or both 
parents; 
Whereas children who have had a loved one die, especially a 
close family member, can carry that loss within them for-
ever, and it sometimes causes confusion in the mind of 
a young person about why their loved one was taken 
away; 
Whereas the great majority of grieving children feel alone, 
not understood, and fearful, on top of their feelings of 
grief, leading in many cases to an inability to manage or 
even face their grief; 
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•HRES 426 IH 
Whereas many adults and other children erroneously believe 
that grieving children are resilient enough that they ‘‘just 
get over’’ their grief, so much so that children have often 
been called ‘‘forgotten mourners’’; 
Whereas for many grieving children the most helpful reaction 
they can receive is an acknowledgment of their feelings, 
a listening ear, and the support of caring individuals, like 
family, friends, or others also grieving a loss; 
Whereas ‘‘Children’s Grief Awareness Day’’ began through 
grassroots efforts in 2008 in order to help others under-
stand the impact of death on children and their need for 
support, and to provide ways for caring adults and young 
people to show their support and solidarity for grieving 
children; 
Whereas ‘‘Children’s Grief Awareness Day’’ is observed every 
year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, immediately 
preceding the winter holidays which can be a particularly 
difficult time for grieving children; 
Whereas simple ways to participate are to engage in activities 
that raise the awareness of the needs of grieving children 
and to encourage as many people as possible to wear blue 
on that day as a symbol of support for these children; 
Whereas this year, on November 21, 2013, and on November 
20, 2014, thousands of children and adults from all 
walks of life from across the United States will join to-
gether to show their support for grieving children by par-
ticipating in ‘‘Children’s Grief Awareness Day’’; and 
Whereas the Thursday before Thanksgiving would be an ap-
propriate day to designate as ‘‘Children’s Grief Aware-
ness Day’’ to help the public understand the devastating 
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•HRES 426 IH 
impact of the death of a loved one on a child, and of the 
child’s need for support: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Children’s 
Grief Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness of and 
support for grieving children; 
(2) recognizes the hard work that grieving chil-
dren do every day in creating a new life out of the 
pieces remaining of their old one; 
(3) applauds the thousands of individuals who 
volunteer to support grieving children; 
(4) salutes the efforts of national, State, and 
local organizations for their work on behalf of griev-
ing children, and especially of the tireless efforts put 
forth by the multitude of individuals who give of 
their time to help these children day after day; and 
(5) requests that the President encourage the 
Federal Government, States, tribes and tribal orga-
nizations, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, 
businesses, other entities, and the people of the 
United States to observe ‘‘Children’s Grief Aware-
ness Day’’ with appropriate programs and activities 
with the goal of not forgetting these ‘‘forgotten 
mourners’’, and supporting them in their time of 
need. 
Æ 
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