Inaugural Wreath-laying Ceremony Honors Rosalynn Carter on Her Birthday
Event mirrors ceremonies held for former U.S. presidents at their gravesites.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was honored at her burial site in Plains, Georgia, Monday in an inaugural wreath-laying ceremony that honored her legacy on what would have been her 98th birthday.
The wreath-laying ceremony, presented by the National First Ladies Day Commission (NFLDC) and the Society of Presidential Descendants, was the first of its kind honoring a deceased former United States first lady on her birthday. The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park hosted the event.
The event is similar to how the sitting president sends a wreath to all the former presidents’ gravesites, according to Rev. Nicholas Inman, founder of the National First Ladies Day Commission, who opened the ceremony with remarks in remembrance of Mrs. Carter, who died on Nov. 19, 2023, at the age of 96.
“Mrs. Carter, of course, was completely worthy of being the first recipient as she was often the trailblazer and was noted for a lot firsts in her lifetime,” Inman told East Wing Magazine. “From first lady to global citizen to humanitarian, she really touched a lot of lives.”
Many people in attendance, including the National Park Service workers, had personal remembrances and friendships with Mrs. Carter.
“Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of First Lady Rosalynn Carter on her birthday,” the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park posted on social media. “Her kindness, strength, and devotion continue to touch hearts and remind us that one life lived with purpose can inspire generations.”
It’s a challenge, Inman said, to those left to follow in her footsteps.
“The world needs more women like Rosalynn Carter,” he said. “We all need to be challenged to be like her and to touch the lives of others … because if everybody decides that they just want to throw up their hands and they don’t want to be a difference maker, we’d live in a sad place.”
New Episode! This I Remember: Roosevelt Family Stories
In this episode of “This I Remember: Roosevelt Family Stories,” Ellie Seagraves tells her granddaughter, Sophie, stories about her experience as Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s eldest grandchild. At 98 years old, Ellie still fondly remembers her summers spent riding horses and cataloging books in Hyde Park, eating breakfast with FDR in the White House, and traveling to the Middle East with her beloved Grandmére. This conversation highlights the love Eleanor Roosevelt had for her grandchildren; even as the children grew older, started their own families, and moved across the country, Eleanor made sure to visit often. View here
Hilarie Burton Morgan to Moderate Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards Panel
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center has announced that actor Hilarie Burton Morgan will moderate the 2025 Banned Book Awards panel.
Burton starred in the television series “One Tree Hill” and is a best-selling author, businesswoman, producer, and fellow Hudson Valley resident. She uses her platform to promote some of the values Eleanor Roosevelt held extremely close—justice, human rights and intellectual freedom.
This year’s honorees will be celebrated at the center’s second annual Banned Book Awards on Oct. 11 at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House. Tickets are available now.
Margaret Atwood will receive the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award for her iconic works such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments.
Becky Calzada will receive the Eleanor Roosevelt Literary Freedom Award for her contributions as a Texas librarian and co-founding member of Texas #FReadom Fighters.
Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison for Hair Love
Malinda Lo for Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell for And Tango Makes Three
Juno Dawson for This Book is Gay (Video acceptance speech)
John Green for Looking for Alaska (Video acceptance speech)
The keynote speech will be delivered by PEN America’s President, Jennifer Finney Boylan. The event will also feature special remarks from Cameron Samuels, Executive Director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), and Deborah Caldwell Stone, Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation.
The Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature follows three decades of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center honoring individuals who embrace her call to build a better world through humanitarian efforts in education, advocacy, social justice, and civil and human rights. Read more
Calendar
Aug. 25, 2025
First Ladies on the Page Book Club: The President’s Wife: A Novel
Join the First Ladies on the Page Book Club for an exciting discussion of The President’s Wife: A Novel by Tracey Wood on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Discover the incredible story of Edith Bolling Wilson, a fiercely independent woman who became the First Lady of the United States and shaped the course of history during one of the most tumultuous times in America. Tracey Enerson Wood brings Edith Wilson’s complex and courageous journey to life in this sweeping historical novel. Read more
Sept. 5, 2025
Legacy Lecture: Julia Grant in Her Own Words
The National First Ladies Library and Museum will take participants back in time to the Civil War era with former First Lady Julia Dent Grant as she shares her extraordinary life story. On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at noon ET, join a virtual, first-person performance that brings Julia Grant to life. Experience her remarkable journey as she navigated the challenges of her husband’s rise to become the Commanding General of the U.S. Army, faced the trials of raising four children during the Civil War, and lived through one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Read more
Through Sept. 5, 2025
There is Still Time to Apply as a Volunteer to Help Decorate the White House for the Holidays
Applicants have until Sept. 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET to submit their applications to First Lady Melania Trump to volunteer to help decorate the White House for the Christmas holidays or to apply as performer at the White House during the holiday open houses.
Selected applicants will be notified by Monday, October 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET. All selected volunteers are responsible for their individual travel, accommodations, and personal expenses.
Volunteer Christmas Decorator Application:
Those interested in volunteering to decorate the White House ahead of the Christmas Season may apply HERE. Please note that any individual applying to volunteer at the White House must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Each person must apply individually; group applications cannot be accepted. Decorating will take place during the week of Monday, November 24 through Sunday, November 30, 2025. Additional details may be found on the application page.
Volunteer Holiday Performer Application:
Performers and musical groups including school bands, choirs, and holiday-themed entertainers are encouraged to apply HERE for the opportunity to perform during the holiday open houses during the month of December. Additional details may be found on the application page.
Sept. 18, 2025
Third Thursday Wine & Cheese: First Ladies & Their Iconic Hats
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents a wine and cheese event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. EDT on Sept. 18, 2025, during a fascinating evening exploring the iconic hats worn by first ladies throughout history. Read more
Sept. 20, 2025
Anita McBride to Headline NFLLM Anniversary Gala
For decades the Canton, Ohio-based National First Ladies Library & Museum has been dedicated to telling the stories of America’s first ladies. In honor of its milestone 25th anniversary since being named a historic site, the organization has announced Anita McBride, former chief of staff for former First Lady Laura Bush, will headline its premier fundraising event, “Women of the White House Gala.”
The event will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2025, at the historic Onesto Event Center in Canton and will include a Kennedy-era inspired dinner, a discussion with McBride, live entertainment, photo opportunities and the Jewelry Box Raffle. Guests will also have the opportunity to view an exact replica of Jacqueline Kennedy’s iconic wedding gown from the museum’s permanent collection.
McBride’s career includes senior roles under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. She is the co-author of Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women and U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies, and currently leads the First Ladies Initiative at American University. Tickets and sponsorships are now available here.
FLARE Announces Call for Submissions for New E-journal
The First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) invites submissions to a new e-journal, FLARE’s Journal of First Ladies Studies, which is scheduled for launch early in 2026. The journal welcomes scholarly submissions based on original research on any aspect of the study of first ladies, including work that examines them within a historical context, adopts a comparative perspective, presents a theoretical approach, or offers an interdisciplinary framework for analysis in fields such as history, women’s studies, communication, sociology, political science, material culture, and historic preservation.
Inquiries about potential articles in the journal should be directed to the journal’s editor, Christopher J. Leahy, Professor of History at Keuka College, at cleahy@keuka.edu.
Submit calendar items, announcements and press releases to East Wing Magazine at jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.