Spring Arbor Living Blog

Which President established the third Sunday of June to be a permanent national observance of "Father's Day"?  The answer is provided later in this blog.
 
The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.  Soon thereafter, the idea caught fire across the country.

So which President formally established "Father's Day"?  Here's a hint. Father's day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956.  So as you might have guessed, it was……….Richard Nixon???  I bet we tricked some of you into thinking it was Dwight D. Eisenhower.   "Father's Day" was not official until 1972 when President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.  All of us at Spring Arbor Living look forward to celebrating with you this Father's Day. 

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