CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- An online petition is calling for a national holiday to honor the late Rev. Billy Graham and has over 33,000 signatures in support.
The petition, posted on change.org, calls on Donald Trump, Richard Burr, Thom Tillis and Congress to enact a national holiday to commemorate the impact of Rev. Graham.
The petition posted six days ago by Kyle Siler, states the following:
Lets get a National Holiday for Billy Graham!! Mr. Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories—through various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Mr. Graham’s counsel was sought by presidents, and his appeal in both the secular and religious arenas is evidenced by the wide range of groups that have honored him, including numerous honorary doctorates from many institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
As of 9:30 P.m. on Monday the petition has over 80,000 signatures and the organizer is aiming for 150,000 for now.
For their wish for a permanent federal holiday to come true, an act of Congress is required.
"If it is enacted by both chambers then it will go to the United States President either for the president's signature or he can let it lay on the table and it will automatically become law," said Don Vaughan, an Adjunct Professor of Law at Wake Forest University School Of Law.
Vaughan added that there will be moves across the State of North Carolina to honor Graham, but it won't be limited the late reverend's home state alone.
"I'm just guessing that there will be numerous bills with regards to Billy Graham and that the legislators themselves will start that and then the public will have input, " he concluded.
Last week, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles declared that March 2, 2018, will be known as "Billy Graham Day" in the Queen City.
Lyles said the decree is a "citywide expression of gratitude and appreciation for all of the meaningful achievements in the life of Reverend Billy Graham."
Before he went on to become the man that many remembers as "America's Pastor," Rev. Graham grew up in a house on a dairy farm in Charlotte on Park Road. He passed away at his home in Montreat, N.C. on February 21 at the age of 99.
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