The Story of Father’s Day
Intro
— Author Unknown
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.
Home Where William Smart Raised His Six Children
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 honored on this special day.
A Detailed Video History of Father’s Day
A Personal Twist on Father’s Day
In the Florida community where we live in the winter there is a friend named John who used to operate a restaurant together with his wife before they retired.
One day John was recalling his working days and he told us that he learned quickly that his restaurant needed to “go all out” for Mother’s Day. They added floral arrangements, fancier napkins, “cute” appetizers and desserts, and offered three separate seating times that filled the restaurant. John even admitted that they raised their prices!
It was the most profitable day of the year.
The next thing John told us was that they made similar preparations a month later for Father’s Day but with a somewhat more masculine “beefy” menu and more outdoor looking pictures on the menu, etc. The plan was for three seatings with a full house at all three, as they had done for Mother’s Day.
Here’s what happened.
Only one of the three seating times found the dining room over half full.
The most popular menu selection was hamburger and french fries.
“Premium” menu items hardly sold at all. Massive quantities of uncooked food remained in the refrigerators.
They lost a lot of money!
John said he should have see it coming since he knew that all the athletes on TV look into the camera and say “Hi, Mom!” No one ever says “Hi Dad!”
So — this Father’s Day, why not prove John wrong by going all out for Dad.
Etc.
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Thanks! – Dick S
