Sweater Day!

I'm going to do this – you should, too.

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Fred Rogers tribute includes Sweater Day

PITTSBURGH - A tribute to children's public television pioneer Fred Rogers will include an effort to get people everywhere to wear a sweater on what would have been his 80th birthday.

March 20th is being promoted as "Sweater Day" to honor Rogers, who died of cancer five years ago. A sweater was his trademark garb on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

David Newell, who played speedy deliveryman Mr. McFeely on the show, appears in a YouTube video that touts the event.

"Sweater Day" is the capstone to a six-day celebration planned by Family Communications Inc. of Pittsburgh. Rogers created the company to produce his show.

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A lot of people mock Fred Rogers, but I always considered him to be the role model that a lot of small children could use in their lives. When I was a little kid way back in the "only 4 TV channels available" days of 1970 (I know kids – it's hard to fathom, isn't it?), I joined Mr. Rogers, Daniel the Striped Tiger, King Friday, and the gang every afternoon in the Land of the Make Believe. His show was on Seattle's PBS station every day at 4:00, and it was a great way for a (fairly innocent) 5 year old with a vivid imagination to spend his afternoon.

Mr. Rogers spoke directly to you with honesty and sincerity, and never relied on insults, put downs, or double entendres to get a cheap laugh. (No fart jokes, either.) He had no secrets – he showed us how things worked behind the scenes, but invited us to actually use our imaginations or to get up and play a little bit. No interactive video games, no sitting on your butt, your brain slowly turning into ooze. He was a friendly man with the big smile who wasn't going to hurt you, wasn't going to yell at you, and wasn't going to teach us words that would lead to time-outs.

I wish more kids today would be able to enjoy his show – it's a thousand times better for you than anything you'll learn on SpongeBob or RugRats.

So break out your sweaters, kids – wear 'em proud, in honor of Saint Fred. One of the good guys.