NYDUTCHE-L Archives

From: "Mike Roberts" <>
Subject: Re: [NYDUTCHE] Why I do Genealogy
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 17:50:31 -0400
References: <26.2a640339.2a5ef8fb@aol.com>

Thank you for sharing. I do enjoy reading things like this
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 11:06 AM
Subject: [NYDUTCHE] Why I do Genealogy


> I thought this was worthwhile to share and of interest to all who do
> genealogy.
> Blessings,
> Bob
> RE Speese
>
>
>
> Fleshing Out The Bones
>
>
> We are the chosen. My feelings are that in each family there is one who
seems
> called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them
live
> again.
> To tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.
> To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead,
> breathing life into all who have gone before.
>
> We are the storytellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been
> called as it were by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us:
> Tell our story. So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves.
>
> How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How
> many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would
be
> proud of us?
>
> How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love
> there for me? I cannot say.
>
> It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do
> the things I do? It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to
> weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen.
>
> The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to
doing
> something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to
> accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to
respecting
> their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their
> resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.
>
> It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It
goes
> to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us.
>
> That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do.
With
> love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are
> them and they are us.
>
> I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next
> generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of
family
> storytellers.
>
> That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young
and
> old to step up and put flesh on the bones.
>
> ( Unknown Author )
>
> *********************************************************************
> Researching SPEESE, STREET, McWATTERS and BALLENTINE.
> Norton 2001 Updated Virus System and ZoneAlarm.
> GOD BLESS AMERICA
>
>
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• Re: [NYDUTCHE] Why I do Genealogy by "Mike Roberts" <>