FathersDayOrigins

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Origins of Father's Day

By Jane Marie

Some say the first celebration of Father's Day was in Vancouver, Washington. Others note a mention in a church in West Virginia in 1905. Certainly the American Greeting Card Company began printing and selling Father's Day cards for profit before there was a recognized holiday. And by 1915, the Chicago chapter of the Lion's Club was honoring fathers.

However, credit for the holiday generally goes to Mrs. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington.

Mrs. Dodd and her five siblings were raised by their father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who lost his wife during the birth of their sixth child. He never remarried. As Mrs. Dodd grew to adulthood, she came to realize the caliber of man who had kept their family together with his unfailing love. After hearing her minister preach the glories of motherhood, Mrs. Dodd asked him to dedicate June's first Sunday service to her father because it was nearest the date of his birthday. The minister, who needed time to prepare, agreed to do it on the third Sunday of June instead.

Mrs. Dodd knew other fathers should be honored and began her push to make Father's Day a recognized holiday. On June 19, 1910, interdenominational leaders met at the YMCA in Spokane and passed a resolution to observe Father's Day. Mrs. Smart, who observed the custom of wearing flowers on special occasions, suggested red blossoms to represent a father still living and white for fathers who had passed on.

It took many US presidents to make Father's Day official.

In 1916, Woodrow Wilson agreed Father's Day was a grand idea.
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Father's Day as a national day of observance.
Lyndon Baines Johnson, in 1966, signed a proclamation marking the third Sunday in June Father's Day.
In 1972, President Nixon made Father's Day a true national holiday despite the fact that celebration had been on-going for six decades.

Of course we need to let the man who has guided us know he is cherished beyond all words.

Make dinner or a special dessert

Take your father or father figure to the movies

Buy Dad a new saw, book or video

Take him to the ball game or give him tickets to go with a buddy

Make a serious effort not to fuss or point out one more chore the man could be doing.

No matter your age - be it in person, by phone, by e-mail or greeting card - don't forget to thank your special guy and say, "I love you."

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Father's Day Dilemma - Shopping for Our Dad

By Nancy Kamp

You want to give beloved parents a gift they'll remember. This is because you love them and because (in my case anyway) you're trying to make up for the hideous poetry you've written in their honor since you've been a taxpaying adult who should have known better.

While I generally like to shop, I freely admit I never had a clue as to what would delight Dad's heart.

Yes, the man loved to read. One year, I gave him my [free] review copy of East Anglia - a World War II adventure mystery (mini-review), but that screamed "cheapskate" and seemed insufficient tribute to the beloved father who raised me and my siblings.

Fortunately for Leo, we here at GraciousJaneMarie.com / greenlightWRITE.com "eat our own dog food." This is an old Internet term meaning we actually use the products and services we urge you to buy so we can stay in business.

That means (blah, blah, blah - ad, ad, ad) we've got thousands of items to choose from.

So what? Our Dad, like yours I'm sure, deserved the perfect gift.

Was it fun and frivolous or plain and practical?

All of the above. But mostly we tried to give Dad time and attention. He thought he was a lucky man.