Find A Grave served to get me started researching my family history. A few years before my fathers passing I took him to see his grandfathers grave site. It was an old cemetery and when in such cemeteries one often wonders about the stories of the oldest graves there. Often they would have old wrought iron fencing and such was the case in this particular cemetery and I left there wondering about their story.

Shortly after that trip I found Find A Grave as I was attempting to learn a bit more about my ancestors. It was then that I discovered those graves with the wrought iron fencing were my ancestors!

It was at this same time that I discovered another claiming my GGG Grandfather as their GGG Grandfather. I remember thinking they can't have him, he's mine. Before that discovery I had really never thought about those distant cousins, although I certainly knew they existed, I've studied population genetics.

From that discovery a whole new world has opened up to me that I like to call "the fabric of a nation" as I discover many of my ancestors immigration to the United States and how they moved and settled all across America. This story is true for every family and if they will do a little research they will also discover the role their ancestors played in the fabric of a nation, rather it is here in the United States or another country.

Also through those discoveries of cousins we learn so much more about our families and also often learn that each others ancestors paths may have crossed many times, rather it was during the American Revolution, Civil War, Oklahoma Land Run, and a number of other events that helped shape a nation which many of us have read in our history classes.

I often wonder how much more interesting history class would have been in school if I had known many of these stories then. Also, I've had the opportunity to travel a great deal, many of my steps were on or near the very ground my ancestors walked, I wish I had known that at the time.

I encourage people to learn something about their ancestors, their struggles, and achievements. And also, share this with other members of your family, especially your children and grand children.

Find A Grave served to get me started researching my family history. A few years before my fathers passing I took him to see his grandfathers grave site. It was an old cemetery and when in such cemeteries one often wonders about the stories of the oldest graves there. Often they would have old wrought iron fencing and such was the case in this particular cemetery and I left there wondering about their story.

Shortly after that trip I found Find A Grave as I was attempting to learn a bit more about my ancestors. It was then that I discovered those graves with the wrought iron fencing were my ancestors!

It was at this same time that I discovered another claiming my GGG Grandfather as their GGG Grandfather. I remember thinking they can't have him, he's mine. Before that discovery I had really never thought about those distant cousins, although I certainly knew they existed, I've studied population genetics.

From that discovery a whole new world has opened up to me that I like to call "the fabric of a nation" as I discover many of my ancestors immigration to the United States and how they moved and settled all across America. This story is true for every family and if they will do a little research they will also discover the role their ancestors played in the fabric of a nation, rather it is here in the United States or another country.

Also through those discoveries of cousins we learn so much more about our families and also often learn that each others ancestors paths may have crossed many times, rather it was during the American Revolution, Civil War, Oklahoma Land Run, and a number of other events that helped shape a nation which many of us have read in our history classes.

I often wonder how much more interesting history class would have been in school if I had known many of these stories then. Also, I've had the opportunity to travel a great deal, many of my steps were on or near the very ground my ancestors walked, I wish I had known that at the time.

I encourage people to learn something about their ancestors, their struggles, and achievements. And also, share this with other members of your family, especially your children and grand children.