Happy Father's Day...

In honor of my Dad, I'd like to share the verse from a card I gave to him on Father's Day 1984. He had it framed and always kept it on the wall next to his dresser in his bedroom.

A dad is someone who holds you close,
who guides you and gives you a sense of values,
then sets you free to find out for yourself
just who you are and who you want to be...
A dad is someone who dreams great dreams for you,
yet accepts the dreams that you decide to follow...
A dad is someone who will always love you
just the way you are.



The Story of Father's Day

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.

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 Father's Day.

I hope that everyone is able to celebrate this day with much love and joy, and many sweet memories tucked gently into your hearts.

Until another time... Pearl