Today, Father’s Day 2013, marks the hundred-year anniversary of the introduction of a bill to nationally recognize the holiday honoring dads.

Despite the bill’s introduction in 1913, Congress failed to move forward with the national observance, and it wasn’t until nearly another half century later, in 1966, that then-President Lyndon Johnson issued a presidential proclamation designating Father’s Day for every third Sunday in June. President Richard Nixon established permanent national holiday in 1972.

Although Mother’s Day still comes first on the calendar and in many people’s thoughts each year, Father’s Day deserves an equal amount of attention. The importance of a father’s positive impact on children is immeasurable, as research confirms.

Besides the obvious beneficial direct effects that dads have on their children’s upbringing, a father’s positive relationship with his children’s mother also provides a valuable role model for children’s future relationships.

Unfortunately, more and more children are growing up without a father’s presence. Recent census data shows one out of three children in America do not have their biological father living at home.

While some of these children may have a stepfather or other person, such as a grandfather or uncle, to give them that positive male influence in their lives, more and more kids are growing up without the significant role model that a father provides.

These changing demographics make it all the more important to celebrate the fathers among us.

So to all the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and other men who provide a positive role model for our children, let’s take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Father’s Day.