It’s easy to take Father’s Day for granted. The third Sunday in June appears on calendars, marked by backyard grills and last-minute cards, but too often, the day slips by with little more than a quick phone call or a tie wrapped in paper.

In a world that moves fast and prizes the new, Father’s Day offers a pause — a reminder that some of life’s most important roles are lived quietly every day and often without thanks.

Father’s Day is more than a calendar formality. It’s a day set aside to recognize the men who give shape and steady hands to families and communities. In Lewistown and across Mifflin County, fathers and grandfathers serve as teachers, coaches, neighbors, and role models. The day isn’t about perfection or grand gestures. It’s about appreciation — real, specific, and overdue.

There’s no shortage of headlines questioning the relevance of Father’s Day. Some say it’s a holiday invented by greeting card companies. Others claim it’s been overshadowed by its spring counterpart, Mother’s Day. But the statistics and stories from our streets tell a different story. Children with active, caring fathers have better outcomes–academically, socially, and emotionally. These men are not always biological fathers; they are stepfathers, uncles, mentors, and coaches who show up day in and day out.

Unlike most jobs, fatherhood comes with few instructions. The men who take on the task learn as they go, often by trial and error. They teach by example — working late, showing up at games, repairing what’s broken, or offering a patient ear. They serve as a first source of advice, even when they don’t have the answers. The stories of local fathers are the stories of small towns everywhere: long hours, quiet sacrifice, and moments of pride that never make the news.

It’s easy to overlook the influence of fathers because much of their work happens out of sight. Fathers don’t seek praise for mowing the lawn, patching a roof, or helping with homework. They fill in the gaps: the midnight rides home from work, the steady hand on a shoulder, the voice at the end of the phone line. Their steady presence sets expectations and boundaries, gives comfort and security, and — most important — shows what it means to care for others.

Lewistown’s fathers do more than care for their own families. They coach Little League teams, lead Scout troops, and serve on committees. They bring sons and daughters to church, drive neighbors to appointments, and help friends when their trucks get stuck in the mud.

In volunteer fire companies, along parade routes, and on the sidelines of Friday night football, they shape the spirit of the region. Their example matters, and their influence ripples far beyond their front doors.

The definition of fatherhood keeps changing. Today’s fathers may work from home, share household chores, and take a bigger role in daily caregiving. Some are raising children alone or in blended families. Some are doing their best from afar, separated by distance or duty. What matters isn’t the title or the tradition — it’s the effort, the presence, and the willingness to keep trying, even when it’s hard.

It’s not enough to say thanks once a year. Father’s Day should spark something deeper: a conversation, a memory, a commitment to reach out and stay connected. Too many fathers hear from their families only on holidays.

Too many feel the pressure to measure up to an impossible standard. Yet the proper gift we can give fathers is simple: time, attention, and honest appreciation. Share a story, listen to theirs, ask for advice, or offer forgiveness if it’s needed. These are the moments that last, and they’re the ones that count.

For many in our community, Father’s Day is a bittersweet time. It brings back memories of men who are gone but not forgotten — grandfathers who served in war, fathers who worked the factories, uncles who gave rides to ball games and paid for ice cream. Their lessons linger in old photographs, in habits passed down, and in the values that guide us when no one is watching. Taking time to remember them is a way to honor their place in our lives and the story of this region.

This Father’s Day, don’t let the day pass with a shrug. Whether your father is near or far, living or gone, take a moment to reach out, to share gratitude, or to remember. Write a note. Make a call. Visit if you can. For those who never knew their fathers or had complicated relationships, there are other men–friends, neighbors, coaches, who have helped fill that space. Let them know they matter.

Father’s Day stands as a reminder that the strongest bonds are built with time, effort, and care. In Mifflin County, those bonds show up in the routines of daily life — in quiet rooms after midnight shifts, in the echo of baseballs hit at Rec Park, and in the laughter that fills backyards on a June afternoon.

These moments might not make headlines, but they build the foundation of families and neighborhoods. On Father’s Day, we pause to see them. And, if we’re wise, we’ll remember them every day after.