Celebrate Fathers

According to the US Census, there are over 70 million fathers in the US, and many will be celebrating Father’s Day with their families this Sunday. The push to have an annual holiday recognizing fathers started as early as 1908 but it was not as quickly embraced as the efforts had been to honor mothers. In fact there was much controversy and push-back for establishing a day to honor fathers.

Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington, was the first person to garner statewide support for such a holiday, and on June 19, 1910, the entire state of Washington celebrated their first Father’s Day. Slowly it evolved with encouragement from President Wilson in 1916 and President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. It also received unlikely support during the Great Depression as merchants and advertisers strengthened their efforts to make it a “second Christmas” for men.

World War II also played an important role in solidifying this holiday as advertisers promoted the holiday as a way to honor the American troops and to support the war effort. While it became a national institution during the war years, it was still not recognized as a federal holiday. In fact Congress had been refusing to pass legislation establishing this holiday as early as 1913. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers on the third Sunday of June. Six years later in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed it into law. At last fathers were officially being celebrated.

While many fathers were away from their wives and children during WWII, they still had respect and love from the Home Front on the third Sunday in June. May we remember our courageous WWII fathers and continue to support and honor our military and civilian fathers this Sunday.