Happy Fathers Day

The following comes from www.holidays.net/father/story.htm


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.


My Dad was always there for me. In times when I got out of line he set me straight. When I needed to see the doctor (and I was a sickly kid) he made sure we could go to the doctor. We had plenty to eat, had a roof over our heads, a nice stable environment to live in. He provided us with a set of encylopedias which I adored. When they were concerned about the neighborhood we were growing up in he moved us to a much better area with better schools. In general my Dad provided for us and even though I may not have got every toy I wanted, I still had plenty. The only thing I wish that could have been different would have been to spend more time doing things together like baseball but he had it tough providing for us and I understand. He sold insurance hoping to get ahead and pushing insurance on people is not his thing. He became a formen to make a little extra money despite the fact that it made things much tougher on him. He took on second jobs when needed. When he was out of work for a short period of time he found a way to get us through until he found the next job. Of course there was always deer hunting in the fall. I have a lot of fond of my Dad and growing up and I continue to add to these memories today.

I don't know how much I will be around over this weekend as I will be out golfing (poorly) with my Dad and Sister and celebrating Father's Day with my Dad and the fmaily. I just wanted to take a moment to recognize Dad's everywhere. I think it is very appropriate to have a day in recognition. A special shout out to a few of you fellow bloggers I know are fathers. BTExpress, Croaker, Denny, GoGo, Jon, Top Cat, Happy Father's Day to you and to those that I forgot. May you have a very pleasant weekend filled with family and friends.


You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. She looks up to you. You're her oracle. You're her hero. And then the day comes when she gets her first permanent wave and goes to her first real party, and from that day on, you're in a constant state of panic. --Father of the Bride