|
“He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”
So said the early 20th century author Clarence Budington Kelland in recognition of his father's impact as a role model. Father's Day is a day of commemoration and celebration. It is a day to not only honor our fathers, but to express gratitude toward those who have acted as a father figure and helped shape us into the people we have become today.
The first unofficial Father's Day celebration occurred in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910 after Sonora Smart Dodd approached her church leaders about Mother’s Day and asked them to also recognize the role fathers played in family life. The idea gained national attention, and in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson came to Spokane to participate in Father’s Day services. President Lyndon Johnson declared the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day with a presidential proclamation in 1966, and in 1972, President Richard Nixon established it as a permanent holiday. Sonora Smart Dodd had been raised by her father after her mother passed away while giving birth to her. Unlike Dodd who was raised by her father, close to 25 million children in the United States today live without their biological fathers.
According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, children whose fathers are involved and loving are more likely to do well in school and have positive self-esteem. They are less likely to engage in high-risk or criminal behavior. On the contrary, children whose biological fathers are absent are two to three times more likely to live in poverty, use drugs or engage in other criminal behavior, or exhibit educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems. Sadly, nearly 40 percent of children with absent fathers have not even seen their father once during the past year.
Like many American youths, my parents divorced before I went to preschool. Fortunately for me, a family friend stepped forward and became known to me as “Uncle Abe.” He picked me up from school and practice, made my friends barbeque and 7-Up Pineapple Cakes, helped me train my first dog and most of all, he loved me unconditionally.
While serving on the City Council, I learned about a program in Long Beach that I have supported over the years called “Role of Men,” where fathers are given an opportunity to learn family skills, fulfill their responsibilities and grow as fathers.
Both Uncle Abe and my father have now passed on. The greatest things that I have learned from them was to not expect anyone to give you anything, learn to take care of yourself, give more than what you expect to receive, work hard, don’t ever quit, keep your eye on the ball and go for it!
To every father, uncle, brother, friend, mentor, boy, girl and mothers too; let’s celebrate those who have cared for us. Whether it is the laugh, the stern look or deliberately ignoring our bad steps… they are ours… our fathers and we wish them a Happy Father’s Day.
###
|
