Governor, President and families honor fathers today
Father’s Day is underway in American Samoa begommomg territory-wide with the traditional Sunday church services. Some church services began earlier than usual as fathers put together special programs for their day.
Fathers performed skits, group signing and readings from the Bible.
Later they were treated to a special Sunday ‘feast’, or toana’i at their homes, while others were treated at local restaurants offering Father’s Day Sunday Special meals.
Speaking on his weekend radio program, Gov. Togiola Tulafono called on all fathers of the territory to continue their duty as a father not only within their families but their communities.
He wished them a blessed Father’s Day but urged fathers not to mark their special day by consuming alcohol - a message he repeated twice.
In his Father’s Day proclamation, U.S. President Barack Obama said, “On Father's Day, we honor the men whose compassion and commitment have nourished our spirits and guided us toward brighter horizons.”
“For many of us, our fathers show us by the example they set the kind of people they want us to become. Whether biological, foster, or adoptive, they teach us through the encouragement they give, the questions they answer, the limits they set, and the strength they show in the face of difficulty and hardship,” he said.
“Our fathers impart lessons and values we will always carry with us. With their presence and their care, they not only fulfill a profound responsibility, but also share a blessing with their children that stands among our truest traditions,” said Obama.
“All of us have a stake in forging stronger bonds between fathers and their children. Today, we celebrate men who have risen to the task, who raised us, and who do that most important work of parenting, day in and day out, with love, humility, and pride,” he said.
Complete text of the President’s proclamation is posted on the White House website: www.whitehouse.gov