Celebrating dads on their special day

Father’s Day has been an official holiday in the United States for only 33 years. In 1976 President Richard Nixon signed a law making it a permanent holiday to be observed on the third Sunday of June.

Whether you are Dad, Daddy, Pops, Papa or even the old man, your day is this Sunday, June 19. Coincidentally, June 19 was the original date chosen for children to honor their fathers. Today stepfathers, husbands, grandfathers, sons and sons-in-law are often included as honorees.

Spokane, Washington, was the original Father’s Day city. Sonora Smart Dodd, the eldest of six children, wanted to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, for his devotion and courage while raising their family alone after her mother died in childbirth. Smart was a Civil War veteran and a farmer. Because his birthday was June 19, his daughter chose that day to celebrate fathers.

The first observance honoring mothers took place in 1908. In 1910 Dodd’s idea for a day for dads gained support from the Spokane Ministerial Association and the local YMCA. The first celebration was held on June 19, 1910.

President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day in 1924. President Lyndon Johnson recognized it as a national holiday in 1966, following a Joint Resolution of Congress to that effect 10 years earlier.

Sonora Smart Dodd died in 1978 only two years after her dream of a permanent Father’s Day holiday became reality.

When asked why we have a special day called Father’s Day, Maricopa students in Amy Hogenes‘s K-3 summer school class related their thoughts on the holiday.

“Because we love our fathers,” exclaimed Joey Rodriguez.

Joey Rodriguez

Lyndsey Peters added, “Because they respect us.”

Lyndsey Peters

“It’s so we can love our fathers and stuff,” said Jeffrey Reed. “And give them stuff.”

Jeffrey Reed

Sarah Burnett thought a few minutes, and then stated, “I love my dad and on Father’s Day I want to give him presents.”

Sarah Burnett

Whether you give your father a card, a hug, the traditional tie or a phone call, be sure to let him know how much he is appreciated and loved on this Father’s Day and every day.