Did You Know? (for dear old Dad)

Hi Again, Blog Pals!

Here at Creating Keepsakes, we are feelin’ pretty festive today. We’re not technically here as in at the office, of course, since it’s Sunday, but we’re thinking about dads and how they rock.

The third Sunday in June is America’s special day to celebrate our fathers. Here are a few tidbits about Father’s Day that you may not have known:

Did you know that

*the concept of Father’s Day was first proposed in 1909 by Washingtonian native Mrs. John B. Dodd? Her inspiration for the holiday was to honor her own father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran and single dad, widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mrs. Dodd’s vision did not become reality until 63 years later. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

*Americans aren’t the only ones to celebrate their dads? In the United States and 52 other countries around the world, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

*many child development experts believe the influence of a father on his children is most critical from the ages of six to 14? Former President George W. Bush, himself a father of two, agrees. As he wrote in the 2008 Presidential Proclamation for Father’s Day, “By providing their sons and daughters with a positive example, fathers help give their children the necessary foundation they need to make wise decisions throughout their lives.”

*since the 1950s, TV dads have wielded tremendous paternal influence over generations of American families? Some of the most popular fathers to grace our sets have included Leave It to Beaver‘s Ward Cleaver, The Brady Bunch‘s Mike Brady, Happy Days‘ Howard Cunningham, The Cosby Show‘s Cliff Huxtable and Everybody Loves Raymond‘s Ray Barone.

*there are 64.3 million fathers in America?

*nearly a quarter of all married dads have three or more children living at home?

*11% of Dads are stepdads, living full-time with their spouse’s children?

*one in twelve men serving in the Army are dads?

*38% of working dads say they would take a pay cut to spend more time with their kids?

(Source: Holidays on the Net)

Here are some photos of CK staffers with their dear dads or their dear hubbies being dads:

And last, but certainly not least, Brian Tippetts (in the center) on his first birthday, being served cake by his dad.

Love quotes? Here are our top ten Father’s Day quotes:

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!  ~Author Unknown

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.  ~Bill Cosby

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence Budington Kelland

Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.  ~Gloria Naylor

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.  ~ Mark Twain

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.  ~ Henry Ward Beecher

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person—he believed in me.  ~ Jim Valvano

To her the name of father was another name for love.  ~ Fanny Fern

I talk and talk and talk, and I haven’t taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week.  ~ Mario Cuomo

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!   ~ Lydia M. Child

So if you’re able, hug your dad today! Tell him how much you look up to him, appreciate him, respect him. And get a picture taken with your dad. It’ll be a keepsake you’ll treasure forever.

Beth Opel

Senior Writer