Don’t Forget About Your Dad This Father’s Day [VIDEO/SURVEY]

Father's Day is coming up this weekend Sunday, June 17.  What do you plan to do for your dad? I can only say I wish my dad was still around so I could do something for him. My father passed away in 2007 and every Father's Day I can't help thinking about all the memories and special things we did as a father and son.My father was a simple hard working man who loved God, his family, and wife. He always made sure we were all taken care of, something all fathers should do. He was a ice cream man who worked at the old Southern Belle creamery on 3rd street, which now is no longer there, only the concrete foundation. Even today when I pass by there I'm reminded of all the times he took me there as a child and let me help him mix the ingredients that would make some of the best ice cream in Texarkana at the time.

I remember helping him make ice cream sandwiches and always got a thrill watching all those sandwiches roll out on the huge conveyor belt. We had to grab them and package them into a box to be put in the cold freezers they had in the building. And yes, he let me eat a few of the tasty treats from time to time.  Another great memory was going on road trips to deliver the ice cream. I recall going to Fort Smith, Arkansas we got caught in a lightning storm over a bridge. We had to stop because it was raining so hard, you couldn't see the road. The lightning looked like it was going to come thru the window it was so bright. But being the father he was, he tucked me under his coat and shielded my eyes from the blinding lightning. A true testament of a fathers love for his son.

Unfortunately, my father got injured on the job and lost one of his eyes. But you know he never let that hamper him and keep him from doing the things he loved. I can't say that I would be able to feel the same way if something happened to me like that. But through his accident he taught me so many things, first and foremost he taught me how to be a man. He persevered,  through his love for his family and the faith he carried inside himself. He was a strong man with a gentle soul who would give the shirt off his back to you if needed.

One of my other favorite memories is, he used to take me and my brother on long walks through the woods and we would just talk about life. It was just a great way to get to know your dad and it gave us a chance to bond. I could go on and on with memories of my father, but the best thing I can do to honor him this Father's Day and years to come is to be more like him.

Thanks Dad for making me the man and the husband I am today. I couldn't have done it without your guidance, love and support.

What are your favorite memories with your dad?

Thought you might enjoy this music video from YouTube that sums up being a father.