▁On ▁the ▁campus ▁of ▁Gonz aga ▁University , ▁the ▁C ros by ▁House , ▁B ing ▁C ros by ' s ▁child hood ▁home , ▁houses ▁the ▁B ing ▁C ros by ▁Mem or abil ia ▁Room , ▁the ▁world ' s ▁largest ▁C ros by ▁collection ▁with ▁around ▁ 2 0 0 ▁pieces . ▁ ▁Events ▁and ▁activities ▁Sp ok ane ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁birth place ▁of ▁the ▁national ▁movement ▁started ▁by ▁Son ora ▁Sm art ▁D odd ▁that ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁proposal ▁and ▁event ual ▁establishment ▁of ▁Father ' s ▁Day ▁as ▁a ▁national ▁hol iday ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁The ▁first ▁observation ▁of ▁Father ' s ▁Day ▁in ▁Sp ok ane ▁was ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 1 9 1 0 . ▁Son ora ▁conce ived ▁the ▁idea ▁in ▁Sp ok ane ' s ▁Central ▁Method ist ▁Epis cop al ▁Church , ▁while ▁listening ▁to ▁a ▁Mother ' s ▁Day ▁ser mon . ▁ ▁The ▁Lil ac ▁Blo oms day ▁Run , ▁held ▁in ▁the ▁spring ▁on ▁the ▁first ▁Sunday ▁of ▁May , ▁is ▁a ▁ ▁race ▁for ▁compet itive ▁run ners ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁walk ers ▁that ▁attract s ▁international ▁competition . ▁Also ▁in ▁May ▁is ▁the ▁Lil ac ▁Festival ▁which ▁hon ors ▁the ▁military , ▁celebr ates ▁youth , ▁and ▁show cases ▁the ▁region . ▁Sp ok ane ' s ▁nick name , ▁the ▁" L il ac ▁City ", ▁refers ▁to ▁a ▁flow ering ▁shr ub ▁that ▁has ▁fl our ished ▁since