Welcome to
DJOC109C SPRING.J.09
DOES THE APPLE FALL FAR FROM THE FAMILY TREE?
In my case it doesn't. I got my love for history at an early age from my Dad. Whenever we took family trips, Dad would make it a point to stop at every historical marker and have us all---my mom, my two brother, my sister and I---get out of the car. Then he would proceed to read the marker out loud.
On one family trip to New Orleans, we stopped in Vicksburg, Mississippi. We spent a long time driving around the Vicksburg National Military Park cemetary trying to find my great great grandfather's grave. My Dad was convinced that this ancestor had died in the civil war battle of Vicksburg. Even if he had died there, it would have been almost impossible to find his grave. There are thousands of graves, 90% of which are unmarked. Years later, at a family reunion, we found out from a great aunt that my great great grandfather actually died in the Battle of Collierville, Tennessee, a much smaller though still significant battle in which Union General Sherman was almost killed. I'd like to think that my great grandfather gave his life to save Sherman and thus ensure the survival of the United States as we know it---wishful thinking or genealogical speculation?
So I am my father's daughter: I love history and I love to find out how my family played a part of it? How about you? What inspired you to take this class?
