Video: Hillary Clinton's Father's Day Message

Father's Day

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 20, 2010

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Happy Father’s Day to all of our State Department dads here in Washington and everywhere around the world. We really appreciate all you do.

You know, for many children, fathers are the guiding hand on the shoulder or the encouraging voice in the ear, no matter how old we are or how far we are from home we may be. And so today, we take the time to thank you for the years of care that go into nurturing the talents of your children.

We owe so much to the parents who shape our values. And we at the State Department thank the fathers, and the mothers, who instilled in you the love of country, the sense of duty, the belief in public service that has led to a career of serving our nation.

Many of you are juggling the demands of difficult jobs while raising your own children. And those of you on unaccompanied tours make hard sacrifices to create a better world for your children and children everywhere. So we just want to take a minute to tell you we appreciate your hard work and will continue to support you and your families in every way we can. To that end, I encourage all State Department fathers as well as mothers to take advantage of our family leave policies and request advanced annual or paid sick leave to help care for and bond with newborns or newly adopted children.

You know, the next generation deserves every chance to pursue their dreams and fulfill their God-given potential. Your work on the job, but equally, if not more importantly at home, helps make that possible. And your example inspires others to follow in your footsteps and maybe even answer the call to service.

So I thank you all for what you do, and I wish each and every one of the fathers a very Happy Father’s Day.

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