Dear Friend,

I’d like to wish a very happy Father’s Day to all of the great Arizona dads. From caring for scraped knees and helping with homework to giving good advice and hugs when it’s needed most, thank you for all that you do and the many roles you play. I hope you enjoy the heartfelt homemade cards, coffee mugs and new ties that come your way today. You’ve earned them!

There are two dads out there who are particularly important to me. First, of course, is my own dad, Spencer.  Those in Tucson who grew up with my dad or know him now can attest that he has the greatest sense of humor and is quite the contrarian.

Growing up I remember that he couldn’t stand the sight of even a drop of blood so all cut fingers and broken bones were turned over to my mom.  However, when it came time for long discussions about how to deal with problems or flush out ideas about people or work, his sound advice and lessons on the importance of just trying my hardest and letting the chips fall where they may, well there was where my dad really excelled.

The other special dad in my life is my husband Mark.  Raising bright and beautiful teenage daughters in today’s world leaves little time for rest.  Seeing the special bond that he has with Claire and Claudia and knowing his demanding space shuttle training schedule is really inspiring.

Unfortunately, on this Father’s Day there are many children who can’t be with their dads because these brave men are serving our country and are deployed away from home. One of the greatest aspects about Southern Arizona is the strength of our military families. From our military family to yours, Mark and I thank those parents for protecting and defending our nation. While nothing can make up for a missed special occasion, I hope you know just how much your dedication means to us and to all Americans.

In closing, a final thanks to my Cactus Roots dads. These are the many special guys who have taken me under their wing and helped send me to Congress to represent them and are working hard to keep me there.  I was honored to take three of them to lunch this week to thank them for being the top gatherers of the incredible 13,194 petition signatures we turned in last month. Ross Hazlett, David Hosea and Roger Salzgeber are just an example of our fantastic Cactus Roots family members.

As always, thank you for all that you do and enjoy this special day.

Sincerely Yours,

Gabrielle Giffords