温从秀

难词探意

1. asset /??set/ n. 资产;财产

2. steadfast /?stedfɑ?st/ adj. 坚定的;不动摇的

3. sponsor /?sp?ns?（r）/ v. 赞助;主办

4. resolution /?rez??lu??n/ n. 决议;正式决定

5. designate /?dez?ɡne?t/ v. 指定;选定;委任

6. nurture /?n??t??（r）/ n. 养育;培育（尤指幼儿或植物）

7. hereby /?h???ba?/ adv. 以此;特此

8. hereunto /?h??r?n?tu?/ adv. 到此为止;迄今

President Theodore Roosevelt once said， “The mother is the one supreme asset of national life; she is more important by far than the successful statesman， businessman， artist or scientist.” Today， mothers continue to be an important part of our national character. On Mothers Day， we honor the women whose steadfast love and wisdom have made America a better place.

During the Civil War， Julia Ward Howe， author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic， suggested making July 4 Mothers Day and a day dedicated to peace. Anna Reeves Jarvis also began working for a similar holiday and sponsored a Mothers Friendship Day in her hometown to reunite families divided by the war. It was not until 2 years after her mothers death that Anna M. Jarvis started the campaign for the observance of Mothers Day in the United States. By 1911， Mothers Day was observed in nearly every State of the Union， and in 1914， responding to a joint resolution of the Congress， Woodrow Wilson， President of America， officially designated Mothers Day a national observance.

Motherhood is a rewarding and often difficult job. A mother is a childs first teacher and affects a childs life like few others can. Effective mothers can inspire their sons and daughters to love themselves and others， work hard， make healthy choices， serve causes greater than self， and achieve their dreams. Mothers who protect， teach， and nurture their children with all their heart strengthen their families and help build a better future for our country.

This Mothers Day， we express our heartfelt thanks to our mothers for their unconditional love and guidance. We take time to recognize the many mothers who are supporting their brave sons and daughters in the Armed Forces， and the many others who are themselves serving proudly in defense of Americas freedom and security. The service and sacrifice of these women reflect the best of our nation. They and their loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers.

The Congress， by a joint resolution approved on May 8， 1914， has designated the second Sunday in May each year as “Mothers Day” and has requested the President to call for its appropriate observance. In honor of all of our nations mothers， I am pleased to do so.

Now， therefore， I， George W. Bush， President of the United States of America， do hereby declare May 9， 2004， to be Mothers Day. I commend mothers for the important contributions they make to our society and encourage all Americans to express their love， gratitude， and respect for mothers， and to honor their mothers on this day and throughout the year.

In witness whereof， I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May， in the year of our Lord two thousand and four， and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty?eighth.