Did you know this was the 100th celebration of Father’s Day?  Mark Alexander published a great piece on it this week.  It’s too good, I wouldn’t dare try to add to it.  If you have the time, I suggest you read the whole thing.  I do however want to repeat one selection from it:

The vital role of fathers has been extolled throughout history, in virtually every religion and culture. No less, it is now well understood that the foundation of our nation is “laid in private families,” and that this foundation is critical if the next generation is to be “wise and virtuous, Benevolent and kind.”

Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of negligence among fathers today, and consequently (according to the CDC, DoJ, DHHS and the Bureau of the Census) the 30 percent of children who live apart from their fathers will account for 63 percent of teen suicides, 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions, 71 percent of high-school dropouts, 75 percent of children in chemical-abuse centers, 80 percent of rapists, 85 percent of youths in prison, 85 percent of children who exhibit behavioral disorders, and 90 percent of homeless and runaway children.

The causal link between fatherless children and crime “is so strong that controlling for family configuration erases the relationship between race and crime and between low income and crime,” notes social researcher Barbara Dafoe Whitehead.

More to the point, a counselor at a juvenile-detention facility in California, which has the nation’s highest juvenile-incarceration rate, protested, “[If] you find a gang member who comes from a complete nuclear family, I’d like to meet him. … I don’t think that kid exists.”

Which leads me to the following…

Thank you Dad.  Thank you for being the exception to the rule, as your dad was mostly absent as you grew up.  Thank you for being better than he taught you how to be.  My failings are all my own, but my successes would not be possible without you.  I hope I’ve made you proud.

To all the other fathers out there, God Bless you.  I never understood what responsibility you felt until I laid eyes upon my own son.  There is no job more difficult nor pay more rewarding.  None of us are perfect, but by being there we will not fail.

To all of the fathers, grandfathers and sons away from home wearing our nation’s uniform… special thanks to all of you.  Dads across this nation are enjoying this Sunday afternoon because of the safety and security you provide.  We remember you.  We honor you.  We appreciate your sacrifice and your service.  Happy Father’s Day, we hope you return home soon.

And to my son I can only say this – Through my faith, my love for your mother, my hard work, my patriotism, and my time with you… I hope I set a good example.  I hope I don’t let you down.  I will always be by your side.  And one more thing… no matter what your mother may tell you, always remember one thing… Go State!

This is my last father’s day from the outside.  Next year I’ll have joined the club and likely have a completely different impression of what fatherhood really means.  The weight of the responsibility astounds me.  The knowledge that I will fall a little short no matter how hard I try is humbling.  Fortunately it is that constant work towards doing what’s right that will make an equal impression and teach many of the lessons… so even when I fall short I will have a chance to succeed.  To my benefit, I have some pretty good examples to look toward.

To my father, father-in-law, my wife’s grandfather, my friends who already have kids, and all the other dads out there… Happy Father’s Day!  Enjoy the new ties, the Hallmark cards and fellowship with family.  Find some dry weather and a bit of shade as you fire up the grill.  And get ready, next year you’ll have to teach me the secret handshake.