Like Mother's Day, our American version of Father's Day has a history that goes beyond the cards we mail and gifts for this occasion.
The first known Father's Day service occurred in Fairmont, West Virginia, on July 5, 1908, after hundreds of men died in the worst mining accident in U.S. history. The Sunday service happened because of the efforts of Grace Golden Clayton, the daughter of a dedicated reverend.
While she missed her own dad, Clayton sought to honor the many fathers who lost their lives in the mining explosion which killed more than 360 men and boys.
Father's Day did not become a permanent national holiday for many years. In 1966, Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation designating the third Sunday in June to honor fathers. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the law declaring that Father's Day be an annual celebration on the third Sunday in June, and it's been a permanent national holiday since.
This particular event, like Mother's Day, floods the postal service with gifts for our dads, cards, facetiming, and gatherings to honor this special one. For me, this poem says it best....
Only a dad with a tired face
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame,
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.
Only a day, neither rich or proud
Merely one of the surging crowd
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.
Only a day but he gives his all
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him,
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.
~Edgar Guest~ 1881-1959
