IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 681 
Expressing support for designation of the Thursday before Thanksgiving 
as Children’s Grief Awareness Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 7, 2012 
Mr. DOYLE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for designation of the Thursday before 
Thanksgiving as Children’s Grief Awareness Day. 
Whereas one in seven children in the United States will expe-
rience the death of someone close to them by age 18, and 
1.9 million 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 681 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 15, 2012, thousands of chil-
dren and adults from all walks of life from across the 
United States will join together to show their support for 
grieving children by participating in Children’s Grief 
Awareness Day; and 
Whereas the Thursday before Thanksgiving would be an ap-
propriate day to designate as Children’s Grief Awareness 
Day to help the public understand the devastating impact 
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•HRES 681 IH 
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 Awareness 
Day with appropriate programs and activities with 
the goal of not forgetting these ‘‘forgotten mourn-
ers’’, and supporting them in their time of need. 
Æ 
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