By Jennifer, Fitch The Record Herald

WAYNESBORO - There is a 14-year-old Waynesboro boy who thinks his parents are great and he’s willing to proclaim it.

In fact, Eric Thompson nominated Jay and Janet Thompson for “Parents of the Year” honors. And he says he did so for one reason - “Because I love them.”

The Thompsons, who are state level nominees, will attend a dinner July 23 in Harrisburg heralding their accomplishments. The couple selected to represent Pennsylvania will be eligible to win the national title.

Parents’ Day

A Congressional Resolution signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 established Parents’ Day on the fourth Sunday of every July.

The day was established to promote responsible parenting and honor parental role models.

Parents’ Day is designed to celebrate and strengthen the traditional, two-parent family, according to the National Parents’ Day Council’s Web site. The council is a project of Pennsylvania Family Coalition Inc.

The Parents of the Year honor begins at the local level and extends through a national selection.

Eric Thompson nominated his parents after hearing a program representative speak at a home-schooling seminar he attended. Eric wrote an essay about how his parents have impacted their children, area youth and the town.

The Thompsons

The Thompsons of 14443 Midvale Road have home-schooled their three children - Tracey, 19, Eric, 14, and Brandon, 13. The three have all worked in the family’s business, Old Country Emporium, which they say sells antiques and “cool old things.”

Jay Thompson formerly was principal at a school where Janet Thompson worked.

Janet Thompson said they decided to home-school their children because they believe children want to please the person/people with whom they spend the most time, whether their peers or parents.

The Thompsons feel children learn by example. “He sees us as very active,” Janet Thompson said of Eric’s reason for nominating his parents.

Jay Thompson conducts a Bible study at Franklin County prison and, together with his wife, holds more Bible studies at VisionQuest. Once a week, they visit Rose Manor and take the children along to help them develop relationships with older people.

The family attends Jesus is Lord Ministries near Waynesboro.

The family is working to get Waynesboro Youth Center off the ground. Jay Thompson said about $40,000 is needed for construction to meet fire codes.

He and his wife are anxious to get the youth center started. “Someone has to reach out to these kids,” said Jay Thompson.

He said their own children have accountability to their parents.

“We know what’s going on in each other’s lives. We do everything together,” he said.

Tracey Thompson’s friends have remarked how surprised they are that her family is so close. She is proud of their relationship.

“It was never like a bummer,” said Tracey Thompson. And while they’ve had rough spots over the years, they’ve worked through them … together.

“We believe in the family,” said Jay Thompson.

Editor’s Note: For more information about Waynesboro Youth Center or to make a tax-deductible donation, call 762-1872.