Celebrate Fathers

To Patrick (aka Grenville) and all the fathers, stepfathers, foster dads, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and anyone who has guided a child, all good wishes. (comments are off) 

Celebrate Your day

First Time Dad

Son-in-law celebrates his first Fathers Day today since the birth of nearly six-month old granddaughter.

Sending him our best wishes for the first of many more dad's day celebrations to come. Here's granddaughter with her best friend, Lola.

And, with two other (larger than her) "friends." We named the gray and pink "Ollie" and gave it to her for a Christmas gift after her December birth.

Happy Fathers Day to Everyone who has been a father, stepfather, grandfather, foster dad and more. If, like ourselves, your fathers are no longer with us, take a moment to celebrate them too.

Day for Dads

Today, Sunday, June 21, is Father's Day. 

It's always celebrated on the third Sunday in June and this year coincides with the Summer Solstice.

To learn more about the holiday check out the History website.

Our fathers have been gone for many years, but we celebrate them on their day — and remember them always.

My dad, Anthony, is shown with myself and brother. As you can see, this photo was taken on a celebration day (1st Communion). My dad would have celebrated his birthday last week.

This collage (prepared several years ago) shows Pat's dad, Robert, with his sister and wife.

Being a father and now grandfather is an important role in Pat's now.

If you are so fortunate as to have your father, stepfather, grandfather or other significant male relative or friend in your life, call him/them today. You will all have a GREAT Day.

Color Him Father

Today is Father's Day, a day set aside to celebrate paternal bonds and honor fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers — all men who have raised or help raise children. There are countless famous (and not so famous) quotes about fathers. However, for me, the verse from this 1969 song* best expresses the truest sentiments about love for a father:

Think I'll color this man father

I think I'll color him love

Said I'm gonna color him father

I think I'll color the man love, yes I will

This post is for Grenville, who is a very special father and grandfather (and husband too.)

And, in memory of our dads, who would have also celebrated their birthdays this month, and sadly passed away many years ago.

* Color Him Father was a hit song released in 1969 by The Winstons,a R&B group. The song is a sentimental ballad wherein a young boy expresses his love for his stepfather, a hardworking and generous man who married his widowed mother and raised her children as his own. 

The use of the word "color," in the song, refers to  “label” or “call.” 

Color Him Father sold over 1 million copies, and was awarded a gold record by the Recording Industry Association of America in July 1969. The song was composed by Richard Lewis Spencer, lead singer for The Winstons, who was awarded a Grammy for Best R&B song in 1970. 

Wishing all dads a very Happy Father's Day

Dad’s Day 2012

Some chirps for dads  — today, June 17,  is celebrated as Father's Day, in the U.S.

And, some funny comments too . . .

“A father carries pictures where his money used to be.”  Author Unknown

"A new father quickly learns that his child invariably comes to the bathroom at precisely the times when he's in there, as if he needed company. The only way for this father to be certain of bathroom privacy is to shave at the gas station.”  Bill Cosby

“When I was a kid, I said to my father one afternoon, 'Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?' He answered, 'If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.”  Jerry Lewis

“I'm so ugly - My father carries around a picture of the kid who came with his wallet” - Rodney Dangerfield

Happy Father’s Day to Grenville and dads everywhere !

Father’s Day 2011

Today, June 19, is Father's Day, a holiday honoring fathers worldwide and celebrated in the U.S. and some other countries worldwide on the third Sunday of June.
Father’s Day observances started in the U.S. in 1910, It didn’t become an official holiday until 1972. And, like Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in May, it is not is not a federal holiday. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of this special day. A post provided background on the holiday with photos of our dads.

Celebrate & Remember Dad . . . today and always.

Father’s Day Celebrates a Centennial

Sunday, June 20, is not just Father’s Day – but the 100th celebration of the day set aside to honor fathers and those who act as a father figure – stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and others. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in 55 of the world's countries and on other days elsewhere.

Father's Day came about through the efforts of 27-year old Sonora Smart Dodd. While listening to a church sermon in 1909 about the new Mother's Day holiday, Dodd felt that fatherhood needed recognition and wanted a special day to honor all fathers, in memory of her own father, William Smart. A Civil War veteran, Smart was widowed when his wife  died giving birth to their sixth child when Sonora was 16 years old. Smart raised the newborn and his other five children as a single parent on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
The following year with the assistance of her pastor, Sonora took the idea to the Spokane YMCA. The YMCA and the Ministerial Alliance, endorsed her idea. Sonora had suggested that her father’s birthday, June 5, be established as the first Father’s Day. The pastors needed time to prepare, and the first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the third Sunday in June. Young YMCA members  went to church wearing a red rose in honor of a living father, and a white rose to honor a deceased one.

In spite of support from the YWCA, YMCA, and churches, Father’s Day took years to become an official holiday.

• In 1913, Congress introduced a bill to accord national recognition of the holiday.
• In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day.
• In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day.
• In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed the public law to establish a permanent national observance of Father's Day on the third Sunday of June.

On this special 100th celebration of Father’s Day, be thankful, if your father remains in your life and remember to thank him too. Unfortunately, my father and Grenville’s have gone many years ago, but are not forgotten.

These are some photos of Grenville’s father as a young boy, sailor, and young man shown with his sister.
These photos show Beatrice’s dad as a young man in formal attire at a wedding with his sister and on his wedding day.