For as long as I can remember I have had an intense curiosity to know where I came from- whom and where my family originated, how they lived, and how they died. I wanted to know them as best I could. Upon locating ancestors, I felt driven to leave a statement in their behalf. Small-town folks deserve to be remembered; a memorial forever validating their existence. Everyone had people who loved them and had a distinct impact on their world, their community, family, and children. They deserve to be remembered.

I have been able to trace and place memorials for many from my mother's side of the family. The heralded from the state of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Brunswick, Canada. I have also delightfully located an American patriot who served in the Continental Army, who fought to give birth to the independence of our nation. Sadly as for my mother's father family, I have been unable to trace roots.

As for my father's side of our family, much has also been lost of family heritage- My father's family immigrated to America in the first decade of the 1900's from Eastern Europe. Continuous wars, the rising tide of Socialism and Communism, and the changing European map decimated family records- The country my father's Ukrainian mother was born in - Austria-Hungary- has not even existed in decades. Many who immigrated to America from Eastern Europe had a deep distrust of authority and their homeland's government in the 'old country'. They didn't like being on records there for good reason. Unfortunately, often fear and distrust carried over to cause them to refrain from being on record in America as well; at least I have found such to be the case at times with my Eastern European family. Thus, my grandmother throughout her life, always seemed to be a deeply suspicious person, never revealing much of the 'old country'. She did keep traditions however within the home. I remember how she was a strict disciplinarian concerning never wasting food. When I was very young, I always thought that to be so odd. As I grew older, I read and learned a great deal about the history in the Ukraine, which had me glean much as to the reason my grandmother was the way she was.

Over time, I began to recollect bits and pieces of conversations between family members. My father's mother knew very hard times. While in America, during the early 1930's so many in her family still in the Ukraine perished under Stalin's brutal reign. The 'Holodomor' is a relatively unknown genocide of the Ukrainian people implemented by Stalin. The fiercely proud and independent people of the Ukraine resisted the Communist policy of Collectivism; the taking of grain from their farms, their land and farm machinery to become the property of the 'state'. If you complained, spoke-up or expressed anything perceived as criticism, the punishment was brutal. ALL the grain and food was taken, Stalin had the country sealed off, not permitting anyone to leave and millions of Ukrainians died of starvation. Look up Holodomor on YouTube.com. It is well represented there as a testimony to history. - In any event, my understanding of how my grandmother came to be who she was became suddenly all too clear.
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With many nationalities from many nations, so many of us Americans contain a wealth of ancestral beginnings. My personal heritage stems from England, Wales, France, Quebec, Poland, Ukraine, and Native American.

Please- treasure those you love, those who are no longer here to love in life, and the ancestors of your family! - They are truly of a fabric of which you are part. Their very existence has ushered you in and has bearing on who you are. Everyone has a story to tell.

* I welcome any information on anyone whom I have a family connection to- even if it is a small fact. Corrections are also welcome.

For as long as I can remember I have had an intense curiosity to know where I came from- whom and where my family originated, how they lived, and how they died. I wanted to know them as best I could. Upon locating ancestors, I felt driven to leave a statement in their behalf. Small-town folks deserve to be remembered; a memorial forever validating their existence. Everyone had people who loved them and had a distinct impact on their world, their community, family, and children. They deserve to be remembered.

I have been able to trace and place memorials for many from my mother's side of the family. The heralded from the state of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Brunswick, Canada. I have also delightfully located an American patriot who served in the Continental Army, who fought to give birth to the independence of our nation. Sadly as for my mother's father family, I have been unable to trace roots.

As for my father's side of our family, much has also been lost of family heritage- My father's family immigrated to America in the first decade of the 1900's from Eastern Europe. Continuous wars, the rising tide of Socialism and Communism, and the changing European map decimated family records- The country my father's Ukrainian mother was born in - Austria-Hungary- has not even existed in decades. Many who immigrated to America from Eastern Europe had a deep distrust of authority and their homeland's government in the 'old country'. They didn't like being on records there for good reason. Unfortunately, often fear and distrust carried over to cause them to refrain from being on record in America as well; at least I have found such to be the case at times with my Eastern European family. Thus, my grandmother throughout her life, always seemed to be a deeply suspicious person, never revealing much of the 'old country'. She did keep traditions however within the home. I remember how she was a strict disciplinarian concerning never wasting food. When I was very young, I always thought that to be so odd. As I grew older, I read and learned a great deal about the history in the Ukraine, which had me glean much as to the reason my grandmother was the way she was.

Over time, I began to recollect bits and pieces of conversations between family members. My father's mother knew very hard times. While in America, during the early 1930's so many in her family still in the Ukraine perished under Stalin's brutal reign. The 'Holodomor' is a relatively unknown genocide of the Ukrainian people implemented by Stalin. The fiercely proud and independent people of the Ukraine resisted the Communist policy of Collectivism; the taking of grain from their farms, their land and farm machinery to become the property of the 'state'. If you complained, spoke-up or expressed anything perceived as criticism, the punishment was brutal. ALL the grain and food was taken, Stalin had the country sealed off, not permitting anyone to leave and millions of Ukrainians died of starvation. Look up Holodomor on YouTube.com. It is well represented there as a testimony to history. - In any event, my understanding of how my grandmother came to be who she was became suddenly all too clear.
-----------------------------------
With many nationalities from many nations, so many of us Americans contain a wealth of ancestral beginnings. My personal heritage stems from England, Wales, France, Quebec, Poland, Ukraine, and Native American.

Please- treasure those you love, those who are no longer here to love in life, and the ancestors of your family! - They are truly of a fabric of which you are part. Their very existence has ushered you in and has bearing on who you are. Everyone has a story to tell.

* I welcome any information on anyone whom I have a family connection to- even if it is a small fact. Corrections are also welcome.