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:

Fathers Day Beer Hampers Delivered (Sydney, Australia)
Beer Hampers Other Gifts Delivered Within Australia For Fathers Day. Order Online And Make Your DadS Fathers Day! www.hampersaway.com.au
Poemsource.com Releases New, Original, Veterans Day Poems and Other Patriotic Poems
Poemsource.com recently expanded its free online poem collection to include a new group of original Veterans Day poems and other patriotic poems. These poems are suitable for Veterans Day tributes, celebrations, cards, e-cards, and other patriotic applications. In addition to Veterans Day poetry, the patriotic poems page at www.poemsource.com also offers poems for Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Flag Day, Independence Day (4th of July), and other patriotic poems. [PRWEB Oct 8, 2006]
Candlelight Wedding Chapel Las Vegas
Money matters wedding anniversary gift , your guide to marriage ideas from sheri bob stritof And mother gifts first anniversary veit 19912005 wedding poems father gifts fathers day gifts News us home world
Poets & Poems: Three Biographical Poems
Here are three poems by Dennis Siluk, whom was award the Grand Cross of the City, for his cultural poems on Peru on the 8th of October. Here he offers the reader a little deeper into his life, with poems concerning the day he was born, his last day in Vietnam, and he thoughts on Iraq.

Your Best Fathers Day Resources:

1.
Fathers Day Poems Information Fathers Day Poems 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 ...
http://www.dofathersday.com/fathersdaypoems/

2. 30TH BIRTHDAY GIFT IDEAS - 30th birthday gift ideas - 30th Birthday Gift Ide...
... gifts for 21st birthday - Traditional gifts christmas carol - Free christmas patterns fathers day poems - Mom b day gift ideas fathers day 2004 - Gift shops united states directories gift shop ...
http://30th-birthday-gift-ideas.gift-catalogs.biz/

3. Related Links:Father's Day Gifts,Fathers Day Gifts Ideas,Unique Father's day...
... and send it to your father. Fathers Day Card Fathers and Grandfathers gift ideas Walsh Brothers ... ... on the WWW! Grandstand Graphics - Father's day. Poems for Free A Gift Of Poetry -Father's Day ...
http://www.fathersday-gifts.net/links.html

4. Funny birthday poems - Birthdays - Fathers Day Funny Candy Poems
... Gift for Uncle Funny Graduation Poems: Funny Graduation Quotes & Sayings Birthdays - Fathers Day Funny Candy Poems PartyPOP Message Boards. Message Boards Birthdays Post New Message. Fathers Day Funny ...
http://o-list.com/ol/funny-birthday-poems.html

5. CanTeach: Links: Social Studies: Holidays - Fathers' Day
... > Links > Social Studies > Holidays Fathers' Day Billy Bear's Happy Father's Day Crafts ... ... and quotes. Father's Day History Of Father's Day, Poems & Stories, and Coloring Fun Father's Day ...
http://www.canteach.ca/links/linkfathers.html

6. FATHERS DAY 2005 IS - fathers day 2005 is - Fathers Day 2005 Is - Fathers da...
... christmas poems gift baskets st. louis, mo - Halloween drinks ideas about making gift baskets - Gift shop suppliers birthday gifts overnight - Worst wedding gifts graphics: fathers day - Corporate ...
http://fathers-day-2005-is.executive-gifts.biz/

7.
... biz Visit sad fathers day poems Links picnic gift basket - Halloween-theme momogramed gifts for kids - 40th-anniversary-gift-ideas poker gift baskets - Gift-basket-review personalized photos gifts ...
http://bicycle-promotiona ...athers-day-poems.html

8. Gramma's Mothers' and Fathers' Day Crafts
... Miscellaneous Crafts Crafts for Mothers Day and Fathers Day: Car Key Chain Children's Handprints and Poem Father's Day Shirt Card and verse Glove Bookmark Kitchen Knickers and Poems Pyramid Candy ...
http://pie.midco.net/grammalowe/momdad.html

9. Father's Day - Fathers Day Poems
Father's Day Menu Fathers Day History Fathers Day Poems Fathers Day Crafts Fathers Day Quotes Fathers Day Gifts Network 123 Get Money Net 123 Personals Net 123 Recipes Net 123 Singles Net 123 Coupon ...
http://fathers-day.123hol ...athers_day_poems.html

10. The FatherhoodCoalition
... of the Boston Harbour Tunnel all day Sat/ Sun 7:30 am 7 Pm Afternoon ... Contest, which honors fathers who consistently pay their ... children to submit drawings, poems, letters or essays describing ...
http://www.fatherhoodcoal ...0619_FD99_DOR_Day.htm

11. Fathers day gifts - How to Buy a Father's Day Gift - eHow.com
... for father's day coloring, crafts, cards, poems and other ideas suitable for preschool ... ... Father's Day gift cookie delivery - Send delicious cookie bouquet Order Fathers Day gift ...
http://holiday-gifts.easy ...fathers-day-gifts.htm

12. FathersDayGiftIdea.com ►► Father's Day Gift Idea ● Domain ...
... s day poems father's day 2005 father's day gift suggestions www shopsmith com fathersday fathers day poems fther's day gift idea father day gift ideas gift idea for dad daddy's hands father's day ...
http://www.fathersdaygiftidea.com/

13. CHRISTMAS POEMS - christmas poems - Christmas Poems - Christmas poems
http://christmas-poems.gift-catalogs.biz/

14. Fathers Day Links
... about Father's Day, coloring pages, crafts and poems, awards, doorknob hangers and other ... ... Father's Day. Check out their links to entertaining websites dedicated to fathers and Father's ...
http://www.kidscoop.com/resources/fathersday.html

15. Fathers Day Party
http://www.4favors.com/fathers-day/

16. Father - Happy Fathers Day : Fathers day greeting cards wallpaper screensaver
... s Day gifts, Father's Day poems, Father's Day crafts, Father's ... and Kristina Holland. Father's Day on the Net - Welcome Includes ... for a title and boxed in Happy Fathers Day : Fathers day greeting ...
http://daughter.easylookf ...f/daughter-father.htm

17. Gutom.Org - The Portal for the Pinoy Perspective | Content| Poems for Father...
... 20: Official Website of Mar Roxas [Hits: 129] Ads by Google Paid Advertising Advertising Poems for Fathers Day by Alfred A. Yuson Last year Jimmy Abad and I co-edited Father Poems (Anvil Publishing ...
http://www.gutom.org/content-56.html

18. Fathers Day Poem and Gift at Bear Affection
... unique gift online when just a fathers day card is not enough. Dads ... Spiritual Gifts Valentines Day Gifts View Bear Designers Boyd ... ideas, and romantic love poems | love and romantic poetry ...
http://www.bearaffection.com/fathersday/

19. Fathers Day 2002 - quotes, poems, scripture, prayers for Fathers everywhere
... me. Happy Father's Day, faith My Prayer for Fathers everywhere: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you on bent knees, you know my strengths and you know my weaknesses as of all Fathers you are the all ...
http://www.byfaithonly.com/FathersDay2002/

20. Fathers Day Ecards
... eCARDS POEMS WALLPAPERS CLIPARTS DIRECTORY Home Greetings Fathers Day CATEGORIES Valentine's Day Diwali Durga Puja Ramadan Thanksgiving Christmas Mothers Day Fathers Day Eid Halloween Hanukkah ...
http://www.ecardhallmark.com/fathersdayecards/

21.
... to survive. For more of my poems, please go to www.tcfatlanta ... the men that have became step fathers, and to all the women that ... A special tribute to you on this day of days. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ...
http://www.tcfmyrtlebeach ...ersday/fathersday.htm

22. Kids Fathers Day Crafts
cheap air line tickets - Children Activities - Matrix Code Wallpaper - Bed Breakfast Clipart - Thank You Poems To A Special Teachers - Home - Sitemap Kids Fathers Day Crafts Dyslexia In Children ...
http://www.wcbpro.com/Kids-Fathers-Day-Crafts.htm

23. fathers day cards
... gift test - Wholesale-paper-gift-boxes 10 year anniversary personalized gifts - fathers day cards Christmas-poems It was unforgettable to see fathers day cards Everyone needs fathers day cards. One ...
http://personalized-new-o ...athers-day-cards.html

24. 'Fathers Day Index: Part of SOON Online Magazine
... poems from readers, and will publish the best. Send them to: poems@soon.org.uk What Makes a Father? Fatherhood Prayer Un-Father's Day A Father's Day Tribute Dear Daddy, What If ... My Father Our ...
http://www.soon.org.uk/fa ...index_fathers_day.htm

25. Kids Domain Crafts - Father's Day Crafts
... Dad a crown to celebrate Father's Day. Lego Frame This frame is fun to make and to give! Pen Holder Collage Make a pen holder featuring someone's favorite things. Poems for Dad Write a special poem ...
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/_gdadk.html

26. Father's Day Theme - Lesson Plans, Thematic Units, Printables, Worksheets, a...
... http://wilstar.com/holidays/fathers.htm Grade Level(s): K, 1-2, 3 ... It Perpetual Preschool Father's Day Resource Site Teacher-submitted ... Rate It Alphabet Soup: Poems, Crafts, Puzzles Song or Poem ...
http://www.atozteacherstu .../Themes/Father_s_Day/

27. Fathers day poems
... society nature, environment special events internet slang explicit, profanity miscellaneous Fathers day poems Sort by : [ rating | comments | date ] Daddy (0) by Brittaney at 2005-10-26 fathers day ...
http://www.poems-and-quot ...athers_day_poems.html

28. f - First off - More Info On Contact Lenses
... More) contact lenses Directory facts about contact lenses fashion contact lenses father day fathers day fathers day cards fathers day gifts fathers day poems fight night fine day first day first day ...
http://aacontact-lenses.p ...ntact-lenses4u-f.html

29. Fathers Day Gift Baskets
http://www.gift-baskets-etc.com/fathers-day/

30. Mother & Father's Day Poems < Poems by Occasion - WLP
... com/fathers-day-poems.html (comments - 0; added - 22 October 2005; ) More Info | Broken Link Poems for Father's Day Google PR: 0 A beautiful and unique collection of father's day poems browse on this ...
http://www.welovepoems.co ...d-Father-s-Day-Poems/

31. CanadianRockHound.com :: day :: Fathers Day
... Fathers' Day at Web Holidays gift ideas, menus, crafts, poems, stories, and more. Aristotle's ... ... the holiday, along with poems, recipes and recommended links. Fathers' Day at Web Holidays Three ...
http://www.canadianrockho .../day/fathers_day.html

32. Free Craft Projects and Activity Ideas for Kids Parents Teachers Family Fun
... These kits make great gifts or rainy day projects. Not only do the kits make great gifts, but the magnets do too! RELATED: Free Magnet Projects More Top Picks Thursday November 24, 2005 | permalink ...
http://familycrafts.about.com/