I am forwarding this email from a young man to the BALTGEN-L list to all the lists that I have, in the hope that all educators of any type will read it. And hopefully consider giving youngsters some small assignment that sends them to their grandparents and other family members for a possible start on a lifetime love of family research. It so happens that two of my lists are Canadian lists, and members may have very different opinions on the Revolutionary War than Christopher does, but his sentiments about genealogy are why I think his messaget is important. The message directly below, which is above Mr. Smithson's email, is just my response to him. God Bless, Beverly Alexander ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry & Beverly" <alexlary@crosslink.net> To: <BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [BALTGEN-L] Recuriting Young Blood into Genealogical Research & Membership Into Lineage Societies > Christopher, > > First let me say that I am impressed with your email, and that I have often > wondered how much easier this task (and love of my life) would have been if > I (now 53) had been able to ask my Grandmother all these questions. I now > know, having discovered a package of papers of her's, that she was > interested in genealogy, and was about putting gravestones on her ancestors > who had no stones. > > I am also forwarding your email to my three Rootsweb lists in hopes that it > will reach the teachers and educators that are members of my lists (and I'm > also going to send it to my grandchildren, who have expressed no interest in > genealogy, although they know that it is very important to their Grandfather > and myself). > > I wish there were many more like you, and I believe that if a teacher of > mine had given me a small assignment to find out something about my > ancestors, it would have started this love of mine at 8, 9, or 10 instead of > at 48, when it was too late to ask any of the questions. > > By the way, I would have had a fun story to tell at school: my GGF, a > Canadian (not born here, but in St. John, NB), ran for Vice-President of the > United States, but the subject of his birth wasn't important at the time > because he ran on such a small party, the Socalist Labor Party. Now my > Grandparents were Republicans, but they would have told me the story, if I > had only asked. > > Thank you for writing! > > Beverly Alexander > alexlary@crosslink.net > > I hear ethereal whispers persuasive, soft and still, > "Daughter, if you don't remember us, who will?" > Author Unknown > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Christopher T. Smithson" <wsmithso@erols.com> > To: <BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 2:36 AM > Subject: [BALTGEN-L] Recuriting Young Blood into Genealogical Research & > Membership Into Lineage Societies > > I have always wondered what it would take to have people my age (I am now 21) interesting in researching their roots as a hobby or even profession someday. Also joining a Lineage Society like the SAR, DAR, Society of the War of 1812, Society of Colonial Wars and honor the memories of your ancestors and serve in these different organazations that you qualify for. I myself started doing genealogical research at age 8 with my late paternal grandfather here in Harford Co., MD. This research is still with me today not only doing my own family but trying to help others do there research also. At age 13 I became the first student member of the National Genealogical Society. At age 16 I joined the Children of the American Revolution. Between those years I became a member of several other historical and genealogical society like the Harford County Genealogical Society and Historical Society of Harford County... At age 18 when I became old enough I transfered my membership from CAR to the Sons of the American Revolution which I currently hold the office as Chapter President of the Colonel Aqulia Hall Chapter, MD Society SAR and noted as the youngest at age 20 ever to hold this position. I guess my real question is: What will it take to get my generation to become interested in genealogy and the different societies that honor your ancestors memories and the historical events of Americas past. > > This being the 225th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britian during the American Revolution hopefully this will be the year of change of having the younger generation like myself and come forward to honor the memories of there ancestors and enjoy the research that has become one of the biggest.. GENEALOGY Sincerely, Christopher T. Smithson, President Col. Aquila Hall Chapter, MDSSAR Darlington, Harford Co., MD > > ==== BALTGEN Mailing List ==== > > Please make sure the options in your E mail program disables quoting the > > message in HTML when posting to any Roots-L mailing list. > > >