Tribute to Fathers

Sunday, June 19th is Father’s Day. Father’s Day began in the United States, but no one is quite sure of its exact origin. The first occurrence dates back to 1908 in West Virginia. However, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington is credited with being the driving force behind the holiday. In 1909 Mrs. Dodd campaigned for a Father’s Day celebration in honor of her dad who had served as both father and mother to six children for 21 years after her mother passed away. A statewide celebration was proclaimed in 1910. Eventually, annual celebrations were held throughout the United States. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge publicly supported plans for a national holiday. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation of official holiday and in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed a permanent law declaring the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. As a result the holiday was officially recognized by the US Congress. So dad has his own day! With the hustle and bustle of today’s hectic lifestyle, when was the last time you took the time to stop and say thank you to your dad or other significant men in your life? It may be your father, grandfather, uncle, big brother, mentor or friend. As you are planning your Father’s Day celebration there is no substitute for spending quality time with them. Is your father more like the character Jim Anderson played by Robert Young in Father Knows Best, Heathcliff Huxtable played by Bill Cosby, Home Improvement’s Tim Taylor played by Tim Allen or a dad with characteristics from all of them? However you describe your father, think about what his favorite past times are – you can spend the day with him and make it a special day. You probably remember your dad with a gift or card; presents are nice, but not a substitute for time with dad.