Father’s Day Meaning Unchanged Since Its Inception

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Father's Day, the day we collectively celebrate Dad, is almost here. Some have ties and cologne ready to go, while others are still looking for last minute gift ideas to mark the occasion. But have you ever thought about the history of Father's Day?  This year, we decided to refresh our memory. It started in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908, with a church service organized by Grace Golden Clayton, approximately 8 months after a tragic mine accident--the Monongah mining disaster--that claimed the lives of 210 fathers.

Historians say Clayton picked her late father's birth date to hold the service as a way to honor his memory as well. However, the Father's Day Service in Fairmont didn't gain national recognition and was only celebrated once. The Reverend Donald David Meighnen with the Marion County Historical Society in West Virginia explained that it was due to several major events happening the day before the original Father's Day. He says that weekend a hot air balloon came to town, a local man rolled on top of a ball up a small staircase in the county court house, and the tragic death of 21-year-old Lucy Ethal Billingsly--the adopted daughter of Col. Billingsly and his wife.

And, organizers also forgot to register it as an official holiday and only marked the occasion once. "And so consequently, neither the church nor the people involved in the execution of that day, nor the town or the state ever took a lead. Two years later, the state of Washington did, and they promoted it very, very heavily from the originator in Spokane, all the way to the state of Washington," said Rev. Meighnen. He says in the 1970s officials chose the 3rd Sunday in June to celebrate Fathers, and Sonora Dodd from Spokane got the credit for making it an official holiday. The Rev. Meighnen said, "We do not claim to have popularized Father's Day. Fairmont knows that it had the first Father's Day Service in America."

Father's Day has evolved through the years. From the meaning of fatherhood to the commercialization of the actual day. Also, now more than ever, many children grow up without a Father in the home due to an array of circumstances. We spoke to Julia Espey, an Author, former NASA Rocket Scientists and single Mother, about her quest to find balance taking on both parental roles. Epsey said, "I didn't want my son to have half of everything he needed to be successful. I didn't want him to be missing the fathering element. So, I went out and started finding what it is great Dad's give their kids.

Epsey says the lack of fathering in American society is the number one social issue facing America. "That comes from the horrifying statistics that shows 70 percent of teenage pregnancies come from single parent families, mostly households run by women," she said. She goes onto say that 71-percent of chemical addictions come from single parent families and 80-percent of prison inmates were children that were raised in single parent families. "They were missing that critical fathering element--it points to the fact that fathering is so important--more so than we realize," she said. Epsey said the women's liberation movement also contributing to the changing roles of fathers. "Sometimes women think they can do it all on their own and the statistics show otherwise, that they [Father's] are absolutely critical in the emotional health of a child."

Epsey interviewed over 50 highly successful men to find out what makes them good parents and what lessons they pass along to their kids. She says what she found out was that father's play a critical role in the success of a child and says showing them appreciation goes a long way. She said, "Father's Day is the best time to say, 'I see how important you are and I really love how you take the kids out on Saturday and get them ice cream--I really love the time when you tuck them in,' to really appreciate what they're doing right."

Although times have changed, the purpose of the day remains the same when first celebrated in 1908--showing appreciation. A few Townsquare Media staff members and radio personalities also chimed in to share some of the lessons they learned from their fathers:

"My father taught me never to take anything for granted. Everyday is a blessing and you never really realize how much you have until you've lost it." -- Jeff Monaski

"I have learned more from my Dad, George Hiatt, by watching him rather than by listening to him. He has always been there whenever family or friend needed him. He has also done disaster relief work around the South. And now he is there for my Mom, who has cancer. If I can live my life by the example that my Dad has given me of his life, I will feel successful in life. He has shown me that life is not about me, but I can help make it better." -- Pamela Hiatt

"Don't worry about your small chest. Big boobs would just get in the way of playing sports." "What did your mother say?" "Your best is all you can do." "Dust yourself off and try again until you get it right" -- Stacey McAdams/PollyWogg about her Father, Tony Nash

"If you ever get arrested for doing something stupid, I will not bail you out." - David Wheeler about his Father, Mick Wheeler

"Forgive and forget, and success is the best revenge." -- Jeanette Lenoir. So, to my father and all other father's, Happy Father's Day!

Julia Epsey is the author of,  "If I Were Your Daddy, This Is What You'd Learn." For an exert of the book visit, www.ifiwereyourdaddy.com.