where were you on august 9, 1974?
On August 9, 1974, our family traveled to Washington, D.C. to acquaint our two preteen daughters with our nation’s history. Richard Nixon had resigned the presidency the previous day in the wake of the Watergate burglary scandal and Gerald Ford was sworn in as President. We were there, standing against the wrought iron fence watching from between the openings as he left the White House, no longer in Air Force 1, but SAM 27000. There he was with Mrs. Nixon by his side. There were hugs for a few of the people who walked to the helicopter to see them fly away. As the propellers began their rotation blowing grass and dirt in our faces and tossed our hair in a swirling motion. It was a day to remember. We told our daughters what a historical moment they witnessed peering through the fence. When I reminded them a week ago that they had witnessed this event in person while in Washington that day, they were surprised! No, they remembered the Space Museum, the Smithsonian, even the Metro, but not the significant political event. My husband and I were both surprised at that.
Do you have places or events your family experienced that your children do not remember? Give them the gift of remembering in your own words the important things you think they should remember or be reminded. I did. Our girls were thrilled about the memory. Your family will be, too. Don’t hesitate, write about it.
HOW WAS YOUR RESEARCH 15 YEARS AGO: Chances are that 15 years ago your research was not going as well as it is today. Why? FamilySearch.com began in 1999 with only two key databases: Ancestral File and International Genealogical Index (IGI). Today, it has more than 3.2 billion records. It has certainly helped with mine, both then and presently! Read this interesting article at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/happy-birthday-15th-familysearch/.
TOWER OF LONDON SURROUNDED BY POPPIES: To see the Tower of London surrounded by a sea of 888,246 red ceramic poppies in remembrance of the fallen soldiers is beautiful.. These will be added periodically beginning August 5, the date Britain declared war on Germany. The final one commemorating the end of The Great War will be placed on November 11, to celebrate the armistice that ended the war. There is a breathtaking picture and article on Smithsonian.com.
The poppy has long symbolized life, death and rebirth. The inspiration for using poppies is from the writing of an unknown soldier who wrote shortly before he died, “The blood-swept lands and seas of red, where angels fear to tread.” When the installation is taken down, the poppies will be sold and the proceeds split between six charities. Read more about the poppies and the War to End All Wars at www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/wwi-anniversary-tower-london-bleeding-poppies-180952236/#SoF3QO4lG0sooyOc.99.
MESQUITE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY WORKSHOP: The Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society (MHGS) will be holding its Fall Workshop on September 6, 2014. The speaker is Debbie Parker Wayne. Her topics are Mining Tax Rolls; More than Property Lists; Organizing for Research & Sharing: Paper & Electronic Files; Online Sear Techniques of Highly Successful Genealogists; Finding Online Books and Journals. Preregistration is recommended. For more information email mesquitegenealogynews@gmail.com, or contact MHGS and send to Box 850165, Mesquite, TX 75185-0165.
BILLIONGRAVES ANNOUNCES THE BILLION GRAVES COMMUNITY: This new addition to BillionGraves connects with others around who work to document the world’s cemeteries. This free site allows you to ask questions, leave feedback, connect with others, network and create groups in your state or county to further this goal. After a few months, Community will allow linking and unlinking images and managing records before they are released to the public. You can access the BillionGraves Community at www.community.billiongraves.com.
WATCH ONLINE FOOTAGE OF WWI: World War I buffs and interested military historians can now watch online footage of the war, recently put online by the United Kingdom Imperial Museum as experienced by those who lived it on the front line and at home. Access the films at http://www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/iwm-london/first-world-war-galleries.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: bbkellow@verizon.net.
Do you have places or events your family experienced that your children do not remember? Give them the gift of remembering in your own words the important things you think they should remember or be reminded. I did. Our girls were thrilled about the memory. Your family will be, too. Don’t hesitate, write about it.
HOW WAS YOUR RESEARCH 15 YEARS AGO: Chances are that 15 years ago your research was not going as well as it is today. Why? FamilySearch.com began in 1999 with only two key databases: Ancestral File and International Genealogical Index (IGI). Today, it has more than 3.2 billion records. It has certainly helped with mine, both then and presently! Read this interesting article at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/happy-birthday-15th-familysearch/.
TOWER OF LONDON SURROUNDED BY POPPIES: To see the Tower of London surrounded by a sea of 888,246 red ceramic poppies in remembrance of the fallen soldiers is beautiful.. These will be added periodically beginning August 5, the date Britain declared war on Germany. The final one commemorating the end of The Great War will be placed on November 11, to celebrate the armistice that ended the war. There is a breathtaking picture and article on Smithsonian.com.
The poppy has long symbolized life, death and rebirth. The inspiration for using poppies is from the writing of an unknown soldier who wrote shortly before he died, “The blood-swept lands and seas of red, where angels fear to tread.” When the installation is taken down, the poppies will be sold and the proceeds split between six charities. Read more about the poppies and the War to End All Wars at www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/wwi-anniversary-tower-london-bleeding-poppies-180952236/#SoF3QO4lG0sooyOc.99.
MESQUITE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY WORKSHOP: The Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society (MHGS) will be holding its Fall Workshop on September 6, 2014. The speaker is Debbie Parker Wayne. Her topics are Mining Tax Rolls; More than Property Lists; Organizing for Research & Sharing: Paper & Electronic Files; Online Sear Techniques of Highly Successful Genealogists; Finding Online Books and Journals. Preregistration is recommended. For more information email mesquitegenealogynews@gmail.com, or contact MHGS and send to Box 850165, Mesquite, TX 75185-0165.
BILLIONGRAVES ANNOUNCES THE BILLION GRAVES COMMUNITY: This new addition to BillionGraves connects with others around who work to document the world’s cemeteries. This free site allows you to ask questions, leave feedback, connect with others, network and create groups in your state or county to further this goal. After a few months, Community will allow linking and unlinking images and managing records before they are released to the public. You can access the BillionGraves Community at www.community.billiongraves.com.
WATCH ONLINE FOOTAGE OF WWI: World War I buffs and interested military historians can now watch online footage of the war, recently put online by the United Kingdom Imperial Museum as experienced by those who lived it on the front line and at home. Access the films at http://www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/iwm-london/first-world-war-galleries.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: bbkellow@verizon.net.
