When is the last time you dug deep into your family history?
If you have parents and grandparents still living, may I suggest that today is a good day to do so?
My aunt – the youngest sister and only living sibling of my mother – and I have been going through our papers and information recalled from her mother, my grandmother, and others. It’s not easy. As I said – she is the only living sibling. And, she is only 19 years my senior. We had other things on our minds when Grandma Abbott was trying to tell us about her forbears.
I mentioned in passing yesterday that a grandmother had stood her ground before Morgan’s Raiders. The following is deciphered from two accounts – in my Grandmother’s own words:
Grandmother (Elizabeth Ann Jackson) [Lessa!! how about that?!] – when Morgan’s Raiders came – took her riding mare and side saddle – her silver, feather beds and in middle of a corn field took her gun and said if one of those Rebels stuck his head in she would have killed him.
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In the same history of sorts, Grandma tells of both sides of her lineage – at least her memories of same. At the time she wrote it she must have been in her later years, too. She passed away in 1976 when I was 26 years old. She was born in 1893 so that would have made her – what? – 83? I think that’s about right. Anyway, on this Veteran’s Day I would like to salute my Great-great-great(?) grandmother Elizabeth Ann Jackson for her stand against Morgan’s Raiders.Â
I also salute the other veterans in my family history – Arthur Carl LeForge (Army) who was killed in WWI (My great uncle), Robert Ward (Army) who was killed in France in WWII (my uncle), and my father, George C. Mulholland (Army), who served (and was honorably discharged) during WWII.  I salute my nephew, Gary D. Keaton (Navy), who served during Desert Storm.Â
I salute those from my town who are serving currently in Afghanistan and Iraq.    Â
I salute the memory of Lance Corporal Michael H. Laskey (Marines) of Soldotna who died while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar provice. A memorial service will be held Sunday afternoon. Â
Now – you all go out and hug your family members and salute the vets in your town, okay? Â Â
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