by Valerie Strawmier

Created on: June 12, 2008

Father's Day: Where did it come from?

One Sunday in 1909, Father's Day was born in the heart of a young girl named Sonora Smart. As she sat listening to a Mother's Day sermon, she started to recognize
what an amazing father she was blessed with.

Sonora was one of six siblings whose mother passed away during the birth of her sixth child. Following this tragedy, William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was left with a

newborn and five children to raise by himself. It was while Sonora sat listening to the virtues of a mother, that she began thinking of all the sacrifices her father had made for her and her siblings. She realized her father was not only courageous to take on such a monumental task alone, but also how selfless and loving he was to all of his children. Having become a wife and mother herself, she was able to look back and see
the effort her father put into raising them and providing the necessities for their childhood.

Following the service, Mrs. Bruce John Dodd approached her minister and spoke to him about dedicating a church service to fathers in order to honor them. Mrs. Dodd's father was born in June, so at first, she proposed June 5 to be the date for the dedication service. However, the minister's schedule would not allow for the preparations to be made so soon.
He proposed June 19th and it was set. Following that first dedication service, Father's Day
was celebrated on the third Sunday of every June. Though it began in Washington, Father's
Day has now become a worldwide celebration!

Oddly enough, Father's Day's celebration traditions started out quite feminine! The traditional way families celebrated was to wear flowers in honor of their fathers.
Mrs. Dodd preferred the red rose to honor a living father, and a white flower to honor a deceased father.

J.H. Beringer officially chose the white lilac as the Father's Day Flower.
Organizations began to lobby Congress in 1916 to declare an annual Father's Day, and
while President Woodrow Wilson approved, it was not until 1924 that President Calvin Coolidge
made it a national event. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation that declared Father's Day as the third Sunday of June. Finally, in 1972,
President Nixon signed this holiday into law, making it a permanent addition to our national holiday list. Nearly half a century of celebrations had passed by this time, but Father's
Day had officially been given its due!

While Father's Day celebrations may have begun as honoring fathers by wearing flowers, those celebrations have expanded over the years to include so much more! As this holiday arrives once more this year, let's remember to honor our fathers, and show appreciation for all the sacrifices, love and care that they have added to our lives!

For those living and those that have passed on, we offer our respect to you for everything you have given to your children and invested in their hearts.

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