Hi Marilyn, Ok Start by getting a death certificate. That may have the parents names and more on it. Also if you know the name of the funeral home that took care of the burial they will have some information that may be helpful. Do you know his social security number or do you have something that had his military serial number on it. If you don't know either, go the Social Security Death Index and look up him name. It will give you the SS #. Also for $11 you can get a copy of the original application for the SS card and that will tell where he lived at the time he got his card and maybe who he was working for. You will need one or the other of the numbers to get a military record. There is a site on the computer that tells you where to send, but I cannot find it off hand. So if you cannot find it, and you are where you can, call a local Marine recruiter and ask him where the national records center is for the Marines. He can find out if he don't know first hand. They are used to getting crazy calls not pertaining to "joining up". Also if by chance there is not a marker on you father-in-laws grave the Government (VA) will furnish a flat brass one FREE. That you would taken care of through the Veterans Administration (VA). Now if you have any idea where they lived in 1900, 1910 or 1920 look at the census reports for the appropriate years in the place they were. It sounds complicated in a way, but it really isn't. It is a big job and takes patience. I have looked for a connection between 1870 and 1860 for two years. I am getting close to finding the connection though and am going to German this summer to meet the other end of the family where the roots started. Needless to say I am thrilled to death. I skipped a few years but found out they wrote a book in 1939 and have had reunions to update it every couple of years. Then I finally got hold of someone who knew about the reunions and the people who operate them. Bingo. I got an invitation. Good luck. Mary Lou ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 10:13 PM Subject: Re: [PARKS] census find > In a message dated 1/20/00 12:33:14 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > << When you find something on a film get a copy made then you have your > documentation. Be sure to document everything, so there is no question > about your info being authentic. Heresy can end up just being that, > although it can lead you to the documentation. > > I wish you the best of luck. > > Mary Lou >> > > Hi Mary Lou, thank you so much for responding. I have so many gaps that it > seems difficult to begin my research but I'm hopeful. I have my husbands > fathers name, of course, George Geary Parke, b: 1900 d: 1985 but I don't know > when or where his father, Joseph Parke was born. Then I have William Park > b:? d: 1898 married to Abigail Warnock b: Nov.16, 1829 d: 1889 and that they > married in Cookstown, Ireland in 1848. > > My father-in-law was in the Marines and I was hoping that there might be some > way to get his military records so that it might give me more information > about his Mother and Father. If you know of a way of my obtaining this type > of information would you mind letting me know? > > Sincerely, > Mrs. Marilyn A. Parke > [email protected] > > Hugs, > Marilyn, Mi. > I haven't lost my mind, it's backed up on disk somewhere. > > > ==== PARKS Mailing List ==== > Please remember: No attachments, Hoaxes, Virus or Chain Letters > are to be sent to the list. The use of foul language is also > prohibited. >