It was during the Mother's Day sermon the young Sonora had the thought that her dad should be equally celebrated. She petitioned her city of Spokane, Washington, and the following year the mayor granted her request, marking June 19, 1910, as the first Father's Day. To celebrate young women handed out red roses to their fathers. Others were encouraged to pin on a rose, red to honor fathers that were living, and white to honor those who has passed on.
It took a bit longer for the celebration to become an official holiday. It was supported by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. In 1938 a trade organization was founded - the National Council for the Promotion of Father's Day - and promoted throughout clothing retail shops in New York City.
The first official presidential proclamation was made by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966, and finally, in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed the now public holiday into law. Sonora died in 1978, meaning she lived long enough to see her idea to honor her father become a public holiday under the laws of the United States.
The story of Sonora Smart Dodd is simple, strive for what you believe in and never think a small idea can't go far - because it's often the small ideas the become the foundation of something even bigger.
So this Sunday we celebrate that small idea Sonora had all those years ago, to honor the fathers and father figures in our lives. The grandfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles - anyone who has taken on the mantle of helping to raise and protect us, we say thank you.
And to my own dad I say thank you and I love you! You have always been there to support me, even in my craziest of dreams you've found a way for me to pursue them, and in most cases succeed. You've always pushed me to be more and to do more and this has stayed with me as I know attempt to parent my own child.
To all the fathers, dads, pops, papas, pas, and grandpaps out there - thank you. You are our role models and heroes, and we are a stronger community and have stronger families because of you.
Happy Father's Day!
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