June 17, 2007 Profile America — Sunday, June 17th. Legend has it that there are more collect telephone calls made on this day than any other — it’s Father’s Day. However you celebrate the day — a funny card, a tool he’s always wanted, or dinner at his favorite restaurant, it’s a time to say thanks to the dads, stepfathers, grandfathers and other father figures for all they’ve done for us. The observance goes back to 1910, when Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, wanted to honor her father, who raised six children by himself after his wife died. The idea spread across the country and became official in 1966. More than 26 million men are part of married-couple families with children under 18. Of these, nearly 160,000 dads have dropped out of the labor force to stay at home and raise young children. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>. Sources: Chase’s Calendar of Events 2007, p. 324
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB07-FF.08
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/009879.html
