The
History 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 be honored on
Father's Day.
Source:
http://www.holidays.net/father/story.htm |