Father’s Day began in 1908 with a church service in Fairmont, West Virginia, honoring men who died in a mining disaster the year before in nearby Monongah. In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, suggested creating a national day to celebrate fathers. Inspired by a sermon on Mother’s Day, she wanted to establish a day to recognize her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own. With support from local churches, community groups, and the YMCA, the third Sunday in June was chosen and the first official Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910.
(more…)Jill Jensen
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NATIONAL NURSES DAY
National Nurses Day is observed annually on May 6 and marks the beginning of National Nurses Week (May 6–May 12), which concludes on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing and known as “The Lady With the Lamp” for her night rounds caring for wounded soldiers during the Crimean War from 1853-1856. These celebrations honor the more than five million nurses across the United States whose compassion, resilience, and dedication form the heart of our healthcare system. First officially recognized by President Ronald Reagan after efforts by the American Nurses Association, the celebration recognizes nurses not only in hospitals but also in schools, nursing homes, clinics, and in other facilities across communities nationwide.
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