A
Celebration In Honor of All Fathers
Father's
Day is a day of commemoration and celebration
of Dad. It is a day to not only honor your father,
but all men who have acted as a father figure
in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles,
Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers."
The Story of Father's Day
Father's Day, contrary to popular
misconception, was not established as a holiday
in order to help greeting card manufacturers sell
more cards. In fact when a "father's day"
was first proposed there were no Father's Day
cards!
Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed
the idea of a "father's day"
in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor
her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil
War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's
mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child.
Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his
other five children by himself on a rural farm
in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs.
Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength
and selflessness her father had shown in raising
his children as a single parent.
The first Father's Day was observed
on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about
the same time in various towns and cities across
American other people were beginning to celebrate
a "father's day." In 1924 President
Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national
Father's Day. Finally in 1966
President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential
proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June
as Father's Day.
Father's Day has become a day to not
only honor your father, but all men who act as
a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers,
and adult male friends are all honored on
Father's Day.
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