Father's Day

This year, 2018, we’re celebrating Father’s Day on June 17.  Why do we pick one day to celebrate fatherhood?  And how did this celebration come about? I did a little checking. As with many holidays, there are differences of opinion.

This is one story.
Our modern version of the celebration of Father’s Day is said to be the results of the efforts of Sonora Louise Smart Dodd from Sokane, Washington. I’m told the idea came to her mind in 1909 while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. She had been raised primarily by her father after the death of her mother. She thought (as I would) since we celebrate motherhood, it’s just as important to celebrate the father’s contribution to the family.  Ms. Dodd began campaigning for the celebration with the support of the local Ministerial Association and Young Men’s Christian Association. As a result of her efforts Spokane celebrated their first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. By word of mouth the notion slowly gained popularity and spread throughout the United States.

Presidential support:
President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 acknowledged the special day in 1916.
President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s day in 1924.
 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day in 1966.
But it wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day.
 
Other theories of the day's origin:
Other stories place the first Father’s Day church service in West Virginia in 1908.
The first ceremony to celebrate the day was held in Vancouver, Washington.
Mrs. Charles Clayton of West Virginia is said to be the founder of Father’s Day,
In some countries Father’s Day is celebrated on St. Joseph’s Day, which is March 19.
I read on report that 4000 years ago a child carved the first Father's Day card on a stone tablet. 
 
Quotations to think about:

“Children have more need of models than critics.”
Attributed to French moralist Joseph Joubert (1754-1824)

“The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.” Proverbs 20:7 NIV

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV