Father’s Day is This Sunday

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 16. A day to honor our father’s, grandfathers and other male figures in our lives. In the United States, Father’s Day was founded in the state of Washington by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910.

This from The Upton Newsletter on September 23, 1910 – Give Old “Dad” A Chance – Following Beautiful Custom of “Mother’s Day,” Father is Going to Have One. The song, “Everybody works at our house but our old man,” struck the popular fancy, yet in reality no one about the house works so hard a “dad,” unless, in some instances, the mother.

On June 19, ”Fathers’ Day” was instituted by the Ministerial alliance and the Y. M. C. A. of Spokane, Wash., and churches everywhere are called upon to take up the observance. For years we have had Children’s day, rightly considered one of the best of our Sunday school customs.

Within the last few years has arisen the beautiful custom of Mothers’ Day, when sons and daughters wear the white carnation in token of filial love and honor, when mother is remembered by letters from the children at a distance and when her influence in the home and her contribution to the nation in the development of its future citizens are the theme of sermons.

This suggested the idea of a Fathers’ Day also, signified by a rose and by an observance similar to that of Mothers’ Day. We hear much and rightly so of the mother’s place in the home and in the training of the children, but the father’s strong hand is required quite as much as the gentle touch of the mother. The observance of Fathers’ Day could be made to mean much for the home, for religion and for patriotism.

The proper place of the father as the head of the household, is part of the discipline and training of the children, especially the boys, who need the firmness of a man’s guidance and the influence of a masculine example, the safeguarding of the marriage tie and the protection of womanhood and childhood should all be emphasized.

This from the Park County Enterprise, May 23, 1914, tells how Father’s Day came to be.

Father To Have a Chance at Last – Father is the party who is usually considered principally along about the time the bills become due. But dad is coining into his own. And it is worthy of note that the idea of creating a Father’s Day originated with a woman.

The idea of setting aside a day every year as a holiday for the purpose or paying special tribute to pater, is a bit new, and as yet with most people is rather nebulous in character, but it gradually assuming a more definite and concrete form and will probably soon become a recognized feature.

The following clipping from an exchange will serve to shed a light on the subject. Sunday. June 21 has been proclaimed Father’s Day by Mrs. John Bruce Dood of Spokane, Wash., who conceived the idea and originated the plan of paying tribute to fathers in all parts of the world one day each year. Although Mrs. Dodd has received notice that a bill designated to set aside the first Sunday in June for this purpose has passed both houses, she states that until official announcement of the fact has been made by the government the third Sunday in June will be observed as Fathers’ Day.

The Douglas Budget, May 29, 1919

From the Wyoming Times, Evanston, Wyoming May 15, 1913 –Boost Father’s Day. Mr. Chairman, Ladies’ and Gentlemen, I rise to make a very important motion. Namely, that the second Sunday of July be observed as “Father’s Day”—The second Sunday of May each year is observed as “Mother’s Day” and the second Sunday of June each year is observed as “Children’s Day”, now why not have a “Father’s Day” as has been suggested and what more appropriate month than that in which we celebrate our Glorious “Fourth” and commemorate the struggles and triumphs of the early pioneers. How many of the wives and mothers are in favor of this motion?

One year Father’s Day and Flag Day shared June 14.

This from the Uinta Chieftain, June 12, 1912 – Flag Day and Father’s Day. Next Sunday two important days will be rolled into one. Next Sunday, June 14, is Flag Day. Next Sunday, second Sunday in June, is Father’s Day. We honor and respect the flag of our country—Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes. It means more to the 130,000,000 inhabitants of the United States today than it has ever meant before. Yes, it means more to the people of the entire world today than ever before. Our friends in every land and clime respect it. To them it is the emblem of security, freedom, honor and strength. Our enemies fear it. They have learned, or they are fast learning, that a united nation, a resourceful a powerful nation, a determined nation, is carrying it to battle—and to victory.

The Star Spangled banner, “Oh, long may it wave. O’er the land of the free, And the home of the brave.” Father’s Day—’its observance is comparatively new. But each year! the day is becoming more universally observed. Father’s real worth is, we believe, being more widely recognized.

Today, in this real crisis in our nation’s history, father is standing as a pillar of strength. His influence is being felt in the home, in the community, the state and the nation. On land and on sea, ‘in the air and under the sea, strong men are today thinking of father. And father is thinking of son. On the home front father will not falter, he “will keep the home fires burning till the boys come home.” Let’s take our hats off and in sincerity pledge allegiance to the flag.

This from the Lander Eagle and Riverton Chronicle, June 14, 1918 – What’s The Matter with Father? – Back a year or so in the distance someone suggested a national celebration of Father’s Day. But Father doesn’t seem to have as many boosters as Mother, who even has the chief executive on her side to aid in making a big thing of the fete. The Cheyenne State Leader has this to say about Father’s Day: “We forget whether or not we have a Father’s Day in this country. As such a day was celebrated last year it was all done so quietly that it did not make any impression on us. But why not have a Father’s Day, with a big rally in the parks?

Prizes could be given in contests, such us: “Endurance contest in holding the baby. ” “Speed contest in transferring money from pay envelope to wife.” “Dish washing contest. “Speed contest in putting up screen doors.” “Rug beating contest.”

So, remember your father on Father’s Day give him a call, send him a card. And have a Happy Father’s Day everyone.