American
Cowboy Launches the
National Day of
the American Cowboy
Magazine
Becomes Trail Boss on a Drive to Honor the Cowboy
In 2004, American Cowboy magazine launched the National Day of the American Cowboy campaign in response to feedback we had solicited from our readers. In our tenth anniversary issue (May/June 2004), we had posed the question "Why does America need the cowboy?" The multitude of reasons poured in and ultimately inspired two of our cover stories—The Cowboy as Hero (July/Aug. 2004), and Five Westerners Who Changed America (Nov/Dec. 2004).
Which got us wondering: if our readers so closely associate the cowboy as a symbol of all they admire and love about this country, should there be an annual day of observance for this national hero? In other words, we asked them, "Does the cowboy need his day?"
Again, the responses poured in. The feedback was so overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic that we knew we had to help create a national day to honor the cowboy. As a first step, we drafted a resolution which read, in part, “A resolution designating a day as “The National Day of the American Cowboy” and encouraging people to recognize the cowboy and the cowgirl for their enduring contribution to the courageous, pioneering spirit of America.”
Thanks to Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, the resolution’s sponsor and leading proponent, and the outpouring of public support in the form of petitions and letters to legislators and the President, the National Day of the American Cowboy Resolution was first passed by the United States Senate in 2005. That same year, President George W. Bush issued a statement of support for the resolution, claiming “We celebrate the cowboy as a symbol of the grand history of the American West.”
The resolution was again passed in 2006 and 2007, and is currently awaiting passage for 2008. (The resolution will have to be reintroduced each year until it is officially designated a national day of observance by the President.) As public enthusiasm for the National Day of the American Cowboy continues to grow, we are confident that the 4th Saturday of July will soon be named a permanent celebration on the national calendar.
In the meantime, we continue to help coordinate and promote celebrations all across the country, lending support and resources where they are needed. By serving as a clearinghouse for any and all information related to the campaign, we hope to preserve and protect America’s cowboy heritage so its history and culture can be shared and perpetuated for the public good through education, the arts, celebrations, ceremonies, and other community activities.
Important Dates:
Saturday July 23, 2005 - 1st National Day of the American Cowboy
Saturday July 22, 2006 - 2nd Annual National Day of the American Cowboy
Saturday July 28, 2007 - 3rd Annual National Day of the American Cowboy
Saturday July 26, 2008 - 4th Annual National Day of the American Cowboy (awaiting passage)
