A Glimpse Into The Past

I am a genealogist. Not a terribly profound statement, but by making it, I acknowledge a greater weakness. I love history, particularly forgotten family history. Nothing tells the story of a people, their country and family better than what a genealogist finds searching old handwritten documents that might normally be trashed, but, for reasons I do not care to explore right now, often are not.

Recently, I renewed my efforts on the Whalen family of Howard County, Maryland and came across the following letter. It was written by a young Rebeckah Jane Whalen to her mother after she visited her brother's ill child.

I'll let the letter tell you more, and comment after you have the opportunity to read what she wrote.

Incidentally, I asked for and received permission from a Whalen family member to post this letter.

Rebeckah, at the time she wrote the letter, was about eighteen years old. The child -- Jane Whalen -- she wrote about was just over one year old. Jane died soon after the letter was written.

Perhaps this post is not that pleasant to read, but it demonstrates several different things. Emotion communicated through writing was and is powerful. Rebeckah was clearly intelligent, loving, and badly hurt by what she saw. I know from family members that this was a major turning point in her life and, perhaps, influenced many decisions she made afterwards.

Also, I think this is very pertinent now, and less obvious too. The digital age will not produce anything like it. One hundred years from now, Tweets, emails, and text messages, etc., will be long gone and long forgotten.

History is better served when written in a format that will not be lost or altered to please those who follow.

240 years of American wartime veterans from our families as of 11 November 2010

Morris, Lewis
Captain
NJ Militia, Continental Army
Revolutionary War

Pangborn, Lines (Died while on guard duty 30 Dec. 1781)
Private, NJ Militia
Revolutionary War

Pangborn, Nathaniel
Private, NJ Militia
Revolutionary War

Herbert, James
    Private NJ Militia, Continental Army
    Revolutionary War

Herbert, Thomas
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Crawford, William
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Suydam, Richard
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Hillyer, John
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Hillyer, William
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

VanDeventer, Peter
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Emley, Jonathan
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Emley, Joseph
    Private NJ Militia
    Revolutionary War

Emley, Samuel
    Private NJ State Troops
    Revolutionary War

Morris, Joseph
Private, Infantry
NJ Indian War 1791, War of 1812

Schwarz, Hermann
Private, 12th Calvary Regiment (New York)
Grand Army of the Republic
Civil War

Wilson, Anson
    Seaman, Navy
    Grand Army of the Republic

Wilson, Edward
    Private, Infantry
Grand Army of the Republic
    Civil War

Schliessmann, John Joseph
Pvt Co A 146th Regiment Indiana Infantry
Grand Army of the Republic
Civil War

Schliessmann, Philip
Pvt Co H 21st Infantry Regiment
U. S. Army
1875-1879

Steiniger, Louis P.
    Pvt. US Army
    World War I

Lappe, Frank Emil
    Pvt. US Army
    World War I

Koch, William
    Pvt. US Army
    World War I

Schliessman: Henry Hugo
Battery A 5 B Trench Artillery
PFC US Army
World War I

Schliessman, John
US Army
World War I

Schliessman, Louis
23 Co. MT Detachment
Pvt US Army World War I

Schliessmann: Peter
US Army
World War I

Schliessmann William (wounded in action)
    8 Co. 152 Dep. Brigade / Co. F 315 Infantry
Pvt US Army World War I

Lappe, Charles H.
    WO US Army
    World War II

Lappe, Herman C.
    WO US Army
    World War II

Schliessman, Charles
World War II

Schliessmann, John J. Jr
SSGT US Army
World War II

Schliessman, Lawrence F. Sr
CPL US Army Air Corp
World War II

Schliessman, Martin A Jr
World War II

Schliessmann. W.E. (KIA - Killed in Action)
    PFC US Army
    World War II

Schliessman, Walter H
National Guard
World War II

Schliessmann, Donald Sr.
    Captain
    World War II

Schliessmann, Robert Mark
    CWO4   US Army
    World War II, Korea

Wilson, Louis Philip
Private US Army
Occupied Japan Post WWII

Cater, Alma Schliessman
    LTC US Army
    Korea, Vietnam
   
Schliessman, Edward
    US Army
    Vietnam

Schliessmann, Donald Joseph Jr
    US Army
    Vietnam
   
Schliesman, Jerrold J. K.I.A. (Killed In Action)
Sgt US Army
B Company1ST Battalion 5th US Calvary
Vietnam

Schliessmann, Lawrence F
    Sgt US Army
3/60th Infantry 9th Division/493 MI
    Vietnam

Autumn's dawn fog on the inlet creek

In the Whisper of Your Passage

Wildflower meadows combed the walls of the valley, flowing to meet the meandering river below. No trail marked my passage, no bent green blade, fallen leaf, or barked limb. Birds toiled their world, feeding fledglings, mending nests, bathing in dusty earth. If they noticed my presence, I did not influence them.

At water's edge, toads and distantly, bullfrogs chirped and grunted speaking language unknown by me but somehow as haunting as a quiet primal flute whistling the lamentations of youth bygone. Dragonflies wove wings of crystal sunshine spiraling to seek their destinies.

Higher on the valley wall, berries sprayed the thorny ridge of its backbone. Their red blue vitality evident between my fingers, staining today with yesterday's promise.

I wandered over and through my temptation, stopping, sampling, hoping to learn more, knowing the lesson past, that time taught all.

Higher still, oak and maple boughs bore the rewards of summer's fullness, shading, nurturing, providing. Scurrying among them, life raced along unaware of passage, unaware of endings, or the promise of new beginnings.

I knew I would do well to heed those lessons. Even when turning in confusion's circle, I move in but one direction. I may see all around me, but miss what is vital. Unless I focus to ask the question, I most desire to know.

Through mourning, I celebrate life, as songbirds voice afternoon's glory, and the dove the break of dawn.

Copyright Larry Schliessmann July 31, 2010
All Rights Reserved

20 Winters Later . . .

In 1989, when I first moved to South Carolina Hurricane Hugo slammed ashore just north of where I lived in Hilton Head. Come Christmastime, since I was alone feeling homesick, I went up north to visit my parents.

Hilton Head was buried in snow, New Jersey not a flake.

Now 20 winters later, at last!

Some events are worth waiting for.