Ep 19. The Anniversary

John and Olivia, the parents of the Walton family, celebrate their wedding anniversary in the sixth season's nineteenth episode of The Waltons, titled 'The Anniversary.' Excitement and preparation for the day take over the Walton household, and the family members go out of their way to make the day special for their parents.

The children wake up early and begin to prepare the house for the big day. Jim-Bob, the youngest Walton, makes breakfast for his parents but burns it accidentally. The family members spend the day thinking of ways to make John and Olivia's day truly special.

Mary Ellen, the oldest daughter, offers to write a poem for her parents, whereas Erin, the second-oldest daughter, decides to sew new dining room curtains to add a sparkle within the house. Meanwhile, Jason, the oldest son, wants to play his music for them and the family band begins to practice a song for the celebration.

Grandma and Grandpa Walton, who live with the family, suggest fixing up an old bike that John used to ride. As the day progresses, the Walton children realize that the surprise gifts might not be enough.

An unexpected turn of events takes place when John and Olivia cancel their anniversary celebration, explaining that they would prefer to spend some quality time with their family. As the Walton children try to come up with an alternative celebration plan, a family friend advises them of a great restaurant where they could hold an intimate gathering and spend time with their parents.

As the Walton family enters the restaurant, they realize that this is not the ordinary place to dine. The restaurant is high-end and the family feels out of place in their rural attire. However, the Walton children will do anything to make the day special for their parents.

The family is greeted by the restaurant owner who addresses them in a polite manner. However, the owner's openly racist son harasses the family and kicks them out of the restaurant. The family is shocked and humiliated as they exit the restaurant.

Anna, a waitress at the restaurant, follows the family out and offers a few soothing words and reveals that the owner's son's behavior was no surprise to any of them. She suggests that the family should go to Ike's, a diner where the locals go to enjoy their meals.

The Waltons visit Ike's diner and are received by Ike and his loyal customers. They soon realize that Ike's diner is not a glamorous place, but a small little hole-in-the-wall where they would meet many decent people and have a great time. The family members order their meals and enjoy an evening of good food and company.

At the end of the episode, John and Olivia thank their children for such an extraordinary day and reveal that they did not care about fancy gifts or a glamorous setting. They wanted to spend some quality time with their family and that is all that mattered.

The Waltons season 6 episode 19 'The Anniversary' is a heartwarming tale of family values and the importance of relationships. The episode displays the simplicity that lies at the core of all strong families and emphasizes that even the smallest things can make a big difference. The episode brings to light a powerful message about love and the unbreakable bonds of family.