The
Father's Day Story
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 19th, 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.
