Published: July 31, 2008 10:25 am            

Don’t allow family history to fade away

This week a distant relative called me — “distant” pertaining to actual distance but also to distance in lineage.

She had been trying to contact my mother to ask about her mother and grandmother’s heritage, children, etc. She wanted to know exactly how we were all related.

Interestingly she commented about heritage, finding our “roots” and how that discovery does not seem important when we are young.

However, as we get older we want to know about our forefathers and foremothers. Consequently we begin to search and find someone or some place that can help us learn about our family history. Sadly, many times the person who has this information has died.

I remember wanting to ask my father about World War II: What he did; what he saw; where he was located. He never wanted to share those stories.

I know that he flew a glider into the Battle of the Bulge; I know that his feet were frost-bitten. I know little else. It must have been awful for him.

Maybe before his death he would have talked more about that time, but I didn’t press the issue. I often wonder if I should have been more persistent. I will never know his story.

I encourage you to ask about your heritage before it is too late. I encourage you to write down as much as you know for your children and their children. Begin by writing names and places, but also add something special about the person. What a treasure you can share.

— Sue Ritz, the executive director of Boone County Senior Services Inc., may be reached at (765) 482-5220 or sritz@booneseniors.org.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.