Father's Day

 

This Sunday is Father’s Day. In the United States it always falls on the third Sunday of June. As far as we know, Father’s Day was started by a lady named Sonora Smart Dodd who lived in Spokane, Washington. She started it to honor her widowed father who was a Civil War veteran. Because his wife had died, he had to raise 6 children alone. Mother’s Day had just become popular and she thought it would be good the honor fathers. Although one local church had a service for fathers to remember the Monongah mining disaster in 1907, it wasn’t until June 19, 1910 that the celebration went state wide.

It took a while for it to catch on. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge added his support to the observance and urged other states to also celebrate it. President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation in 1966, establishing the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Still, it wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed legislation making Father's Day a permanent national holiday. (https://www.history.com/articles/fathers-day)

So how will you celebrate Father’s Day? First, be sure to give your father a great big hug and tell him you love him. (It works for grandfathers also!) You could make or buy a card for him. You might even serve him breakfast in bed. If you can’t cook yet you might want to ask mom for help so you don’t burn the toast. Some families go to church together; others might go to the park for a picnic. You could even do both. Just be sure you let your father know how much you appreciate him and all the hard work he does for your family. (You might even clean your room. That is sure to surprise him!) My father and I used to go fishing together a lot. I think we may have even fished on Father’s Day after the picnic was done. Whether you get him a card, his morning coffee or a breakfast burrito, be sure to let him know how much you love him. And don’t forget to say thank you to your Heavenly Father for all he has done for you!

I hope you all have a great time celebrating Father’s Day this year!

Love Papaw.