The most common reason for gathering family stories is that
if we don't, we will lose them. Life expectancy has
increased to 77.2 years, 74.4 for men and 79.8 for women,
a seeming reprieve to gathering family stories. Nevertheless,
we lose 15,000 Veterans every day and with many of them, their
stories. Teachers say that incorporating family history in the curriculum
helps students with their reading, writing, communication
skills and it fits with learning standards. Certainly there
is a need. Only 43% of 12th graders had a basic knowledge
of history according to 2001 tests, and in 2003, the National
Commission on writing found that only one of four students
were ranked as proficient. Last, the need for reading skills
according to the nation's report card have not improved
for fourth graders, has improved slightly for 8th graders,
and is lower for 12th graders. When we share our family stories, we find commonalities
in all cultures and understand the similarities and differences.
This understanding creates a stronger spirit diversity in
the real world. An inscription over the Oracle at the Delphi in Greece says,
"Know yourself." Who am I? Where did I come from?
Where am I going? "These questions have been asked innocently
by young children and pondered thoughtfully by great philosophers,"
says Marlene Pond author of Creating Memories. "The
past and present are linked in rich and complex ways; our
days are flavored with what has gone before us." Jane
Erenhardt with the Illinois State Historical Library says,
"It is important to get family stories down on paper
or tape or videotape. Those stories are the meat of your family's
history. They explain why you are the person you are."
Older people in Veterans Homes, nursing homes or retirees
are challenged to share their wisdom and history with younger
generations. It isn't only about losing the stories,
it is also about the advice that comes from living through
difficult times and surviving. It is your legacy, one that
only you can give. We are all eyewitnesses to history. History books tell us
about world events, but your family history will view them
through a more personal lens and provide a touchstone on how
world and national events relate to your history. Citizenship and participation in democratic life are themes
that sometimes get lost in the busy world. By tracing history,
we find the ways our ancestors helped build our country through
movements, such as the westward expansion, civil rights, and
civic involvement. History is not just dates and celebrities; it's about
everyday people--you, me, the mayor-- everyone. We are making
the history for future generations.
"Why history? Why at the do people study
the past? Why do they value memories? One way to respond to these
fundamental questions is to consider what life would be like without
history, without memory, without the knowledge of things said,
thought and done in the past. What if you lost your memory tonight?
How would you go about your day tomorrow? Could you really function
without a memory? Historical thought deals with memory, how memories
fit together, and what they mean."
"History is rooted in time but historical thinking focuses
on changes rather than dates. Specific dates are useful as reference
points, but change is the essence of history. Without change there
is no history. But things usually change so slowly that there
are always elements of continuity in the historic process. Change
is the focus of interest for a historian. Things change for certain
reasons and we are challenged to find the causes and explain them"
(From A History Handbook for Student Research Projects).
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