Did you know Father’s Day didn’t become an official U.S. holiday until 1972?
The first widely recognized Father’s Day celebration was held on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. It was inspired by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own after the death of his wife.
President Woodrow Wilson supported the idea in 1916, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day in 1966, and President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.
Interestingly, Mother’s Day became a national holiday in 1914, so fathers waited nearly 60 years longer for official recognition.
As a Southern girl, I can’t help but think Father’s Day is about more than a holiday. It’s about the men who taught us to bait a hook, mow a yard, shake a hand properly, keep our word, and trust God through life’s ups and downs. It’s about the dads, granddads, stepdads, and father figures whose quiet sacrifices helped shape who we are.
Happy Father’s Day to all the good men who helped shape our lives. ❤️