Father’s Day : 3rd Sunday in June.
The origin of Father's Day is not clear. Some say that it began with a church service in West Virginia in 1908. Others say the first Father's Day ceremony was observed in Vancouver, Washington. Still the most accceptable opinion is like that the idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman named 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, Henry 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. States and organizations began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father's Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations." Since then, fathers had been honored and recognized by their families throughout the country on the third Sunday in June. In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day and put the official stamp on a celebration. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day. 

Father and Rose

In early times, wearing flowers was a traditional way of celebrating Father's Day. Mrs. Dodd favored the red rose to honor a father still living, while a white flower honored a deceased dad. J.H. Berringer, who also held Father's Day celebrations in Washington State as early as 1912, chose a white lilac as the Father's Day Flower. 

A father is the male parent of a child. Fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship as one out of two chromatids (two chromatid make one chromosome) paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of paternity has been intrinsically problematic and so social rules often determined who would be regarded as a father e.g. the husband of the mother. This method of the determination of fatherhood has persisted since Roman times. The historical approach has been destabilised with the recent emergence of accurate scientific testing, particularly DNA testing. As a result, the law on fatherhood is undergoing rapid changes.

Father is applied to the first Person of the Blessed Trinity, according to the Christian religion. He is the provident creator; he begets God the Son and God the Holy Spirit from all eternity. Jesus called him "Abba," a familiar term in Aramaic which can be translated as Daddy in English. Father is also the title given to Priests in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian Churches, as well as several other denominations. Father is the regular form of address used when speaking to or referring to priests from these churches. The title Father is also applied to certain influential early Christian figures.

But here the definition of father is another one. To a child father is he who has strength of a mountain, majesty of a tree, warmth of a summer sun, calm of a quiet sea, generous soul of nature, comforting arm of night, wisdom of the ages, power of the eagle's flight, joy of a morning in spring, faith of a mustard seed, patience of eternity, depth of a family need. When God build up masterpiece with these qualities,then He may define this masterpiece FATHER.

"A special bond exists between a father and his children. On Father's Day, we recognize the important role fathers play in the American family, and we honor them for their strength, love, and commitment. 

After listening to a church service on Mother's Day 1909, Sonora Dodd proposed a day to honor fathers. She was inspired by the courage and sacrifice of her own father, a Civil War veteran, who reared six children by himself after his wife's death. As others began to celebrate it, the idea for Father's Day spread across America. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson officially proclaimed Father's Day as a national observance. 

Fathers have a duty to love their children with all their hearts and prepare them to be independent, compassionate, and responsible citizens. A father's words and actions are critical in shaping the character of his children. A fathers love helps teach them right from wrong, explains to them the consequences of bad decisions, and strengthens them with encouragement. 

As we honor our fathers on this day, we express our heartfelt appreciation for their leadership, support, and protection for their children and families. We particularly recognize the many fathers who are far from home, serving our Nation and defending the cause of freedom around the world. They have answered a great call and live by a code of honor and duty that serves as an example for their sons and daughters and for all Americans. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 20, 2004, as Father's Day. I encourage all Americans to express love, admiration, and thanks to their fathers for their contributions to our lives and to society. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day. I also call upon State and local governments and citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth." 

GEORGE W. BUSH 
2004

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY FROM RUMELA.COM