I’ve heard it said that no one can take the place of a father. No one can. No other person can give children the attention or love children need.

I’ve also heard it said that 85 percent of the people who are in prison didn’t have a dad in their lives, or had a dad who never was proactive in their children’s lives.

As we look back at Father’s Day, perhaps we can think about our dads, good or bad, with a new call to fathers to be there for the children. Fathers are needed now, not later.

How important are dads?

No one else can take their place.

The time is now.

John Bean, Lewiston