100 years and counting

100 years and counting

For nearly 15 years, former NBC weatherman Willard Scott has been brightening people’s mornings by recognizing Americans who have reached the 100-year mark.

If he had been on this morning, he could have sung “Happy Birthday, Father’s Day.”

This is, indeed the 100th birthday of an institution that reminds us to show our appreciation to our living Dads and to remember those who are no longer with us.

For this, we owe Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Wash. Sonora was listening to a sermon at Spokane’s Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909 about the newly recognized Mother’s Day, when it occurred to her that fathers, too, should have a day. Her inspiration was her father. William Smart, was a Civil War veteran who was left to raise his family alone when his wife died giving birth to their sixth child, when Sonora was 16 years old.

Quick action

She took her idea to the Spokane YMCA, and on June 19, 1910, young members of the Y went to church wearing red roses to honor their living fathers, white to honor a deceased one.

From that simple, sweet gesture 100 years ago, a tradition has evolved. not always flawless in its execution, but perfect in its sentiment. During the Great Depression, national mens wear retailers promoted Father’s Day, which gave sagging sales a boost and helped establish the Father’s Day tie as a popular (and sometimes lampooned) gift.

However, any Dad can tell you that while ties and shirts and tools and gadgets are appreciated, this is one day when it really is the thought that counts. It’s been that way not for 100 years, but for time immemorial.