Honor older Americans this month

As a member of the Washington State Council on Aging, I am asking you to join me and my fellow members, and Governor Jay Inslee, in honoring Older Americans during the month of May. A meeting in April 1963, between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to his designation of the month of May as “Senior Citizens Month.” Every President since Kennedy has issued such a formal proclamation, currently named “Older Americans Month,” proclaiming the month of May as the time that the entire nation pays tribute in some way to older persons in their communities.

Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other such activities. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Blaze a Trail.” May is a month of fresh beginnings — perennial flowers across our land bloom once again, blazing a trail of bright color which inspires us to acknowledge and celebrate the perennial contributions of older adults to our states and to our nation.

Older Americans Month also offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access the home- and community-based services they need to live independently in their communities. As well, it is an occasion to highlight how older adults are engaging with, and making a difference in, their communities.

Governor Inslee has issued a proclamation acknowledging Older Americans Month. Let’s join him across our beautiful state in celebrating our older citizens.

Barry Lamont

Chairman, Washington State Council on Aging