Thursday, July 2, 2015

Independence Day!


My husband & I are once again hosting a big family BBQ on the 4th of July! Hurray! It is lots of work and lots of fun. We have a nice screened in porch that is perfect for my uncle, the family patriarch, to sit on a rocker and a big back yard that’s perfect for the younger cousins to run and play. My brothers & cousins all bring a dish to share and my husband is in charge of the grill. There will be lots of laughter; sharing of ‘remember when…’ stories; and, this year, our baby grandson will be passed from one set of loving arms to another.


Each time we gather for Independence Day I set up a family history display of some kind. This year I will focus on our Revolutionary War soldiers: seven of my 5th great grandparents who helped to free us from the British Empire.



I made a trifold display board that includes:

·         A family tree chart from my paternal grandmother going back 5 generations that shows both her Revolutionary War soldiers

·         A family tree chart from my Paternal grandfather going back 5 generations showing his 5 Revolutionary War soldiers

·         An 8x10 Chart for each soldier with his military details

·         The soldiers are numbered, both on the family trees & on the charts, to make it easier for the family to understand how each soldier is related to them.




I will make some copies of this information for those who want to take it home.

Whatever you do to celebrate, remember those who made the day & our country possible.

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12 comments:

  1. What a great idea for sharing your research. I am sure the details of your various patriots will make the holiday more meaningful for everyone at the cookout.

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    1. The family enjoyed looking at this. I had copies of the research for folks to take with them. They will be able to take their time & read it more carefully and sharre it with folks who could not make it to the cookout.

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  2. Love this idea - and thanks for the photos. I think anything that is visual and speaks to an event or activity really sparks interest from those who might not normally be interested in "genealogy." Our family reunion is in August so I need to getting planning! Thanks

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  3. I love this idea Colleen! Thank you for sharing it!

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  4. Colleen,

    I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/07/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-july-3-2015.html

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  5. I especially like that you titled this display "OUR Revolutionary War Soldiers" to encourage the entire family to embrace these brave ancestors as part of the family. Happy Independence Day!

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    1. Marion, my family did enjoy the display & it sparked some fun genealogy conversations. Most everyone left with a copy of the information which included the address of my blog. ha!

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  6. Great idea to spark interest in family history and share your research!

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    1. Thanks, Anna. I'm always looking for methods to share the information I have gathered. I believe we all want to share our knowledge with as much of our families as possible.

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  7. What a fantastic idea! And, I love the layout of your blog. :)

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  8. Dana, thanks for stopping by & for the lovely comments. I find that the trifold displays catch the attention of my cousins & spark their interest in our shared history.

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