The History of Father's Day
Sonara Dodd (Washington State) wanted a special day to honour her father, William Smart a Civil War veteran who was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. He was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington State.
When Sonara became an adult she realised the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.
It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter a courageous selfless and loving man. Sonara's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration on the 19th of June 1910.
In 1966 President Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. The law which finally made in permanent was signed by President Richard Nixon in 1972.
|
