First Father's Day....

This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day but did you know…. it was the spring of 1910 in Spokane, Washington when Sonora Dodd came up with the idea of celebrating Father’s Day*. Surprisingly enough it took Hallmark until 1920 to create the first Father’s Day Card.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge declared Father’s Day a National Holiday and in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared the 3rd Sunday in June the day we celebrate our fathers and grandfathers.

Annually Hallmark sells approximately 72 million Father’s Day cards making it the 5th most popular card sending day with an estimated $100 million spent on cards each year*.

As I look at the history of Father’s Day I reflect on the idea that this is my first Father’s Day without my Dad. For 70 years I was blessed with wishing him happiness on “His Day.” I’ve reflected over the past few months what he meant to me and how our differences were our strengths. I think of hie everyday. Dad, Pops, Grandpa or Papa Tony was a kind, generous man who loved his wife and his family. He was a proud man who took pride in his two sons graduating for college and that they followed in his love for family. A side note while he was proud of his boys he was more excited about his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dad was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War having served in both the US Army and Navy. He spent his entire career working for John Deere Des Moines Works. He was one of the first employees hired when the plant opened in 1948 holding employee number 17. His career was highlighted by developing and managing the first data processing department in the Deere company, an accomplishment he was always happy to talk about. In later years he became a System Analyst implementing buying and inventory situations for computer applications.

Over the years I’ve never considered Father’s Day my day because it was my “Dad’s Day.” I felt we should celebrated the day for him.

This year there will be a void at the dinner table but his memory will be with us all. My son Tony is named after my Dad out of the honor, respect and love I had for him. He will be missed but never forgotten.

A friend shared the following with me at the time of my father’s passing without knowing the authoring was a mentor of mine and someone I’d admired for years.

“I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our heart’s memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.”

Leo Buscaglia

Happy Father’s Day Pops!

• Father’s Day Facts - www.loveyoufather.com/fathers-day-history/fathers-day-facts.html

• Father’s Day Spending Statistics - https://muchneeded.com/fathers-day-statistics/