The Story Behind Father's Day

Holiday founded at a YMCA to honor father of six motherless children

On June 17, 2007 when millions of fathers enjoy gifts and cards nationwide, most of them will be unaware that, in addition to their children, they also owe special thanks to Sonora Louise Smart the founder of Father's Day.

Eighty-nine years ago at a YMCA in Spokane, Wash., this dedicated daughter honored her father by calling for an annual Father's Day. The inspiration for Father's Day struck Sonora in 1909, while listening to a sermon celebrating Mother's Day. She thought of her father, a Civil War veteran, who had raised her and five brothers after their mother died in childbirth. Sonora shared her idea with local Protestant ministers at the Spokane YMCA who passed a resolution to observe a Father's Day.

The Spokane YMCA sponsored the first celebration on June 19, 1910. June was her father's birth month. Ms. Smart suggested honoring fathers through religious services, special meals, small gifts and wearing roses. The Father's Day idea spread rapidly, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended a national observance.

"Being a father in 2005 comes with a much different job description than in Sonora's day," said Barbara Taylor, Associate Director for Child Care and Family Programs for the YMCA of the USA. "Fathers are earning this day of recognition more than ever before. At the YMCA we've seen fathers take a much more active role in raising their children joining family activity nights, volunteering with their kids, arranging child care and participating in one-on-one programs. Fathers deserve a pat on the back and, of course, all the support community organizations like YMCAs can give them to make their job easier and more enjoyable."

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd died at the age of 96 but her legacy lives on. A monument to Sonora's holiday stands at the Spokane YMCA where today thousands of fathers and their children enjoy a wide range of family programs.

.
.

News Items About Fathers and Fathers Day:

NBC : Looking for help with Memorial verse
Hi, I'm looking for some help with a verse/poem for a memorial piece that I'm putting together for the 1st anniversary of my mother who passed away on September 9th of last year. That day my life changed forever. My love for her was complete. My parents were exceptionally close, so much so that my father passed away 4
When the Crabapple Blooms-A Poem About Grieving
This is a poem based on the act of a grieving son to come to terms with the death of his father. The process of planting a tree can prove very therapeutic.
Lincoln Tan: We must look past colour and creed in all that we do
Rule Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves: Britons never shall be slaves.
Iraq War Grief Daily Witness Day 312
this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war we love and support our troops, just as we love and support the Iraqi people - without exception, or precondition, or judgement. poem below the fold An Iraqi girl Marwa Faris, 15, cries, after she was injured and her father killed in a roadside bomb explosion, in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday Sept. 7, 2006. Faris was on her way with her father to appear for an academic exam in their car, when a roadside bomb exploded killing her father, injuring her and another civilian. Elsewhere, in the capital five bomb attacks targeting police patrols in Baghdad which left at least 18 people dead and some 57 wounded on Thursday morning, police said.(AP Photo/Assad Mouhsin)
Response to Comment from Amy9327
First off Amy, I hope I got the numbers right - I'm working from memory.   Second... the poem you left on your comment... is the poem Sasha gave to me for Mother's day~   I'm not sure what we're doing for Father's Day yet.  I'm generally stumped for doing stuff like that.  Any and all ideas are welcome!

Your Best Fathers Day Resources:

1. E-Scoop
... <Back to top> For Kid Scoop publication week of 6/8/03 FATHER'S DAY "M-Y D-A-D" Poem Template ... ... ABC Teach posted a reproducible template for children to write a Father's Day 5-line poem in which ...
http://www.kidscoop.com/escoop/index_rs.html

2. Gifts for Dad - Father's Day Gifts - Valentine's Gifts for Men - Top Christm...
... Day | Easter | Mother's Day | Father's Day | 4th of July | Back-to ... TABLE OF CONTENTS - VALENTINE'S DAY NEWSLETTER 10 Creative Ways to ... painting or sketch, or write a poem. * Use your computer to make a ...
http://www.dvercity.com/gifts_for_dad.html

3. Father poem special - Kids Domain Crafts - Father's Day Crafts
... day. And though you cannot meet him, Father's Day Tie Coloring Page A Poem For Dads Poem And Verse ... ... This was a very lovely tribute, beautiful poem for Father's Day! Reindeer Wired News: Father's Poem ...
http://nextfinder.com/nxfd/father-poem-special.htm

4. father day gifts - All Types of Gifts
... idea. Kid's Domain - Father's Day View a list of fun gift ideas, or send Father 's Day Web cards. Get help writing a poem for Dad. Gift Idea Center - Father's Day Online Days out with Dad, helping ...
http://www.pacific-space- ....ca/father-day-gifts/

5. Can't-miss Father's Day gifts (a list for dads)
... Tanya Zolis, mother of Brendan, 4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada "For my husband's first Father's Day. I wrote a poem 'from' my daughter and put her handprints on it. We framed it, and it now sits on his ...
http://parentcenter.babyc ...reschooler/65143.html

6. 1st SPOT Father's Day
... Poem/Tribute For Dads Father's Day Stories From The Heart Happy Father's Day Honor Thy Father Thanks Dad Father's Day Graphics Clip Art Collections A clip art collection of Father's Day titles ...
http://1st-spot.net/topic_fathersday.html

7. Fathers day poems. You can also send them as greetings
... Strengthening our sense of right and wrong Tip: Select and copy a poem with your mouse, and send it now, with a free Father's Day greeting card You can send in your contributions at ...
http://www.theholidayspot.com/fathersday/poems.htm

8. Magical Kingdom Printable Father's Day Cards Page 2
... This collection of printable Father's day Cards is suitable for young children and those fathers who are fond of cute cartoon characters. You can also print out a Silly Poem as the inside message ...
http://www.magicalkingdom ...aft/cards/fdcard2.htm

9. fathers day poem ª Father's Day Gifts ª INTERNET RESOURCE DIRECTORY
... On Ties Tie a Bowtie Gag Bowties Tie a Bandana ª RECOMMENDED YOU ARE HERE: fathers day poem ª Father's Day Gifts ª home ª INSTRUCTIONS ª CLICK HERE to learn how to tie a tie! ª FULL ...
http://www.how-to-tie-a-n ...f22-fathers-day-poem/

10. Father's Day Chocolates at Virtual Chocolate
Father's Day is June 20 Click on an image to send a Virtual Chocolate Father's Day Message A Father's Day Chocolate Poem Loving You Roses Are Red Happy Father's Day Reflection With All My Love ...
http://www.virtualchocolate.com/fathersday/

11. Online NewsHour: Father's Day Poem -- June 18, 1999
FATHER'S DAY POEM June 18, 1999 Poet Laureate of the United States Robert Pinsky salutes fathers through verse. JIM LEHRER: Finally tonight, some Father's Day words for dads and granddads from ...
http://www.pbs.org/newsho ...ne99/pinsky_6-18.html

12. wgnradio.com - Radio 720 WGN - Chicago's News and Talk . . . and Sports
... John read the poem .) This poem is dedicated to my ... Jack Brickhouse is having his day ...
http://www.wgnradio.com/s ...ms_john/bakerpoem.htm

13.
Poems Area Home Site Map News Links Father Day Poem Father Day Poem Related Excerpt from our homepage: " Love poems proliferate now, in weblogs and personal pages, as a new way of ...
http://www.peoms-area.com/father-day-poem_13.html

14. Father's Day Poems, Father's Day Quotes, Best Wishes on Father's Day, Submit...
... Father's Day Recipe Father's Day Poem Though New at Fatherhood Though new at fatherhood, you're surely not A novice at the art of giving love. With quiet tact you find the perfect spot Among the ...
http://www.rumela.com/events/father_day_poem.htm

15. Father's Day Gifts - Presents: Father's day Gifts and Presents: Gifts for yo...
... for father's day father's day presents fathers day coloring father day card happy father's day fathers day poem anti father's day origin of fathers day father's day gifts for men fathers day ...
http://fathers-day.gifts-n-presents.com/

16. Unique Father's Day Gift Ideas
... as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. Every poem is unique and written especially for your ... ... Corporate - Easter - Engagement - Father's Day - Friendship - Funny - Get Well ...
http://www.allgiftideasfo ...ftideas/Father_s_Day/

17. father day gift basket and idea
... day unique gift idea basket day father gift wine basket day father gift gourmet christian day father poem father day gift idea child father day poem father day gift basket funny father day poem ...
http://fatherdaygift.info ...et-and-idea/index.php

18. day father joke
day father joke More Searches: day father joke day father funny joke christian day father joke card day father joke clean day father joke day father joke poem day father humor joke day father joke ...
http://www.humouruk.com/day-father-joke.shtml

19. TheEnigmaOfLife's Contest-Poem 'A Very Special Father's Day Wish Going Out' ...
Poetry Contests Lists Groups Learn Forums Help A Very Special Father's Day Wish Going Out by TheEnigmaOfLife on Jun 20, 2004 (Contest-Poem) (bookmark) (print) (next) Author's Last Login: 12 hours ago ...
http://allpoetry.com/Poem/683624

20.
Father Day Poem Information Father Day Poem Christian Day Father Gift Father Day Father Day 2005 Father Day 2005 Calendar Father Day 2005 Date Father Day 2006 Father Day Activity Father Day Arts And ...
http://www.dofathersday.com/fatherdaypoem/

21. Father's Day - Poem --- (c) Copyright 1997 Rodney K. Erb Consulting, Inc. ---
Welcome Happy Father's Day A Celebration Poem In Honor of All Fathers To Be Called Father... A responsibility that requires emotions that are quite remarkable, Strong yet gentle, firm yet ...
http://www.rke-inc.com/father97.htm

22. MaLady's Poetry for Grandfather Gifts. Father's Day Poem to Grandpa
Published Poems |Back| |Contact| |Policy| Father's Day poem for grandfather |Search| |Invitations| |Invitations2| Customer Comments:My daughter refers to her grandfather as "Grumpy" instead of Grampy ...
http://www.maladyspoetry.com/HaydenGrace3.htm

23. Child Day Father Poem
Child Day Father Poem FireRocket Search Related Searches day father from girl little poem poem about child and father african american day father poem card day father poem day father free poem quote ...
http://www.day16.com/child-day-father-poem/

24. Father'S Day Poem Daughter
Father'S Day Poem Daughter father's day poem daughter Fathers Day Gift Ideas 2003 father's day rings fathers day greetings cards religious poems for fathers day fathers day patterns christian fathers ...
http://www.giftexperience ...ay-poem-daughter.html

25. clipart day father free, free flower clipart, clipart free site web
... tawg.comseo/50th-anniversary-free-poem-wedding 40th anniversary gift both clipart day father, 30th an. http://yopopetc.com/anniversary-gift eXTReMe Tracking 16698, 25.60%, day. 16036, 24.59%, fathers ...
http://www.seekfreebie.co ...-day-father-free.html

26. Crafts for Father's Day
... paper. Add a special poem for Father's Day. Decorate a basket and then fill it with stuff that your dad would like. If dad's a chocolate fan, fill the basket with Hershey Kisses, homemade Brownies ...
http://www.garvick.com/annual/fathers_day/crafts/

27. Google Directory - Society > Holidays > Father's Day
... Father's Day- http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/7344/fathersd.html Brief history and poem. GCards Father's Day- http://gcards.com/fathersday/ Includes online greetings, history, poems, cliparts ...
http://directory.google.c ...olidays/Father's_Day/

28.
http://cards.free-egreeti ...day.pl?log=freeegreet

29. Father's Day Gift Ideas at GiftIdeasPlus.com
... Father's Day Golf Ball Set Father of the Year Print 8x10 OAK FRAME Father's Day Tool Box Gift Basket Father Poem Sculpted Keepsake Father's Day Tree It's Father's Day Charlie Brown Happy Father ...
http://www.giftideasplus. ...iday_other_father.htm

30. Father day poem
Father day poem Home mother day day of our life day after tomorrow mother day poem green day mother day card mother day gift memorial day joke of the day day inn day grace three father day mother day ...
http://www.americacashadv .../father_day_poem.html

31.
... range. Xatta Search Results For A Father's Day Poem HOME | CONTACT US Search Good Gift Ideas: >"> Search the Web: >"> Featured Items Xatta International Properties: Xatta 27,105 Business ...
http://www.good-gift-idea ..._day_poem/index.shtml

32. Mothering: Father's Day - Poem
... SimplytheBest Fonts archive LookSmart's Furl - Get the Furl Browser Button Father's Day - Poem Mothering, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Nathanael Schildbach FATHER'S DAY I massage your foot with cream that ...
http://www.parentsurf.com ...8/is_120/ai_107894050

33. http://www.homeholidaysfamilyandfun.com/files2/articlelist.php?topicid=34
... l Military Scrapbooking l Poetry Book l Poetry Contest l Personalized Father's Day Gift l Father's Day Poem l Father's Day Crafts l Father's Day Gift Certificate l When Is Father's Day? l It's June ...

34. Mother's Day Poem
... He works all day without a fuss, And when he ain't to happy he surely is to cuss... He may not show his feelings or understand most of what you say, But just being around him will brighten up any day ...
http://www.offisland.com/mothersday.html

35. Father's Day Crafts for Kids - Homemade Father's Day Greeting Card
... also write the saying on the front of the car, and on the inside, or use your own poem or greeting. Happy Father's Day! Printer Friendly page Related Books and Resources: Kid's Crafts Index Terms of ...
http://www.allfreecrafts. ...athers-day-card.shtml