[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statements were ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

                          IN PRAISE OF FATHERS

 Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, Sunday is Father's Day. The third 
Sunday in June is a lovely time of year, and a perfect time for any 
celebration. This year, it is also the first day of summer--the best 
day of summer, before the weather is too hot, before bugs mar the 
beauty of fresh green leaves and weeds threaten to smother the garden, 
before we are tired of marveling at the smooth green of a freshly mown 
lawn. On this Sunday, we thank both our heavenly Father and our earthly 
father for all that is good and strong and vibrantly beautiful in our 
lives.
  Although scientists say that some smells can trigger strong memories, 
I think that there are certain sounds that many people instantly 
associate with fathers. The keening whine of a power tool, the droning 
buzz of a lawn mower on a Saturday morning, the grunt and clank of 
tools in tight places, the quiet scrape of a razor over a stubbled 
chin, the slow tread of a tired man coming home in the evening, or even 
the nighttime chorus of snores--these are the everyday sounds of 
fathers that provide the quiet sounds during a peaceful childhood. 
Other father sounds may have occurred less frequently, but still 
trigger their own quick smiles of recall--the slap of a baseball into a 
worn glove, perhaps, or the gentle splash of a fishing lure hitting the 
water, that remind us of pastimes enjoyed together.
  On Sunday, fathers will be feted with brunches or barbeques. They may 
open a few gifts and some funny cards. Mother's Day might warrant more 
sentimentality, but Father's Day seems to call for a more humorous 
approach--perhaps so that fathers will not be embarrassed by any teary-
eyed show of emotion. It is enough, for many fathers, to get a card at 
all, and to have all the attention focused on him. Most fathers are not 
much given to displays of emotion or sentimental speeches.
  A father's love is expressed through his presence and the endless 
labor that he expends to care for his family. His love is expressed 
through his actions, and all the sounds that accompany them. My own Dad 
was a quiet man, but he saved his cake from lunch to give to me. He 
listened attentively to my recitations and my fiddle playing, and he 
made sure that I had paper and pencils to draw with as a child. Without 
words, he showed me how much he cared.
  An untitled poem by an unknown poet captures the unspoken love that 
fathers find easier to express:

     Fathers seldom say, ``I love you''
     Though the feeling's always there,
     But somehow those three little words
     Are the hardest ones to share.
     And fathers say, ``I love you''
     In ways that words can't match--
     With tender bedtime stories--
     Or a friendly game of catch!
     You can see the words ``I love you''
     In a father's boyish eyes
     When he runs home, all excited,
     With a poorly wrapped surprise.
     A father says, ``I love you''
     With his strong helping hands--
     With a smile when you're in trouble
     With the way he understands.
     He says, ``I love you'' haltingly,
     With awkward tenderness--
     (It's hard to help a four-year-old into a party dress!)
     He speaks his love unselfishly
     By giving all he can
     To make some secret dream come true,
     Or follow through a plan.
     A father's seldom-spoken love
     Sounds clearly through the years--
     Sometimes in peals of laughter,
     Sometimes through happy tears.
     Perhaps they have to speak their love
     In a fashion all their own.
     Because the love that fathers feel
     Is too big for words alone!

  Mr. President, we can all remember times in our own lives when our 
fathers let us know that they were proud of us. We remember the words 
of praise, the thumbs up, the smile or simply his quiet presence at 
some long ago event. An occasion was important, if our father made the 
time to be there. This Sunday is our chance to return the favor and 
make the occasion important for him, by our presence at brunch, or by 
the grill, or on the phone. He will appreciate the effort, even if he 
may find it difficult to show just how much it means to him.

                          ____________________