The History of Father's Day

Any man can be a Father, but it takes a special person to be called Dad.

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day.

Gift Kids Can Make For Dad

Fill a jar with Hersheys Hugs and Kisses. Take one pair of new sports socks and one pair of gloves (gardening gloves, work gloves, etc.) Tack the socks together toe to toe. This makes a pair of arms. Tack one glove to the the open end of each of the socks. Now you have arms and hands. Wrap the arms and hands around the jar a couple of times, crossing the hands at the front and tack together. Attach this poem:
DADDY, If all these Kisses aren't enough,There's two hands to help with garden stuff.If all these hugs don't work their charm,There's two arms to help keep you warm.If this gift doesn't show how much we care,We have REAL hugs & kisses to share!