Today, Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day, is the day to honor the late great national treasure Fred Rogers.
Mr. Rogers was a Presbyterian minister who didn’t see any good TV shows for children so he decided to make one. The set was simple because he didn’t want to overwhelm kids with too much movement or color. His gentle, reassuring voice taught life lessons to generations of kids while entertaining them with simple songs and a kind smile. He retired from the show in 2001 and passed away in 2003, but with streaming services his show is still alive and well, allowing him to continue passing on his timeless messages to new generations.
There are many ways to honor Mr. Rogers today. You can share his show with a child in your life. . You can donate to your local PBS station. You can call your elected officials and let them know how you feel about PBS funding. You can rock a vintage cardigan sweater and / or some old school sneakers. You can be a good neighbor to someone. Mr Rogers would have liked that.
Photo courtesy of fredrogers.org