Gold Star Mothers, Rootsweb Mailing Lists and Military Cemeteries

This week's tips and hints are an eclectic group. I am never sure when I start my weekly blog if I am going to follow the week as laid out in my calendar - Everyday Genealogy or freelance a bit. This week I mixed it up a bit.

Sunday September 25
* Gold Star Mother's Day
* Find out more about the American Gold Start Mother's, Inc. at their website - http://www.goldstarmoms.com/

Monday September 26
* There are many memorials in Washington D.C. but if you cannot make it to our Capitol, you can still visit the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial virtually.
* Visit The Virtual Wall.

Tuesday September 27
* The United States has 24 burial grounds on foreign soil.
* Visit the American Battle Monuments Commision at http://www.abmc.gov/home.php

Wednesday September 28
* If you are doing Irish Research The National Archives of Ireland has an online searchable database of the 1910/1911 census.
* Access the database for FREE at: www.census.nationalarchives.ie

Thursday September 29
* Looking for a Genealogy Glossary? Check out Dick Eastman's Encyclopedia of Genealogy

Friday September 30
* Using mailing lists on Rootsweb.com?
* Search the archives of the mailing lists for answers before you post a question on a mailing list.
* Birthday of Earl Pahlke - my dad

Saturday October 1
* If you are doing research in Chicago and cannot get there yourself check out ChicagoGenealogy.com

Take Care,

Pattie

Minnesota, George G. Morgan and the Rough Riders

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching and vacation plans are in place. I am preparing for a trip to Minnesota to spend a long weekend on Lake Mille Lacs with Chuck's family. While the family is busy playing cards, corn toss and cruising the lake I plan on kicking back with my fully loaded Kindle.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, but if you decide to do some research, here are this week's tips, with a Minnesota twist.

Sunday August 28
* Have an Minnesota Ancestor with a 'checkered' past? The Minnesota Historical Society can help you access their prison records.
* To obtain information about Prison Records visit: The Minnesota Historical Society

Monday August 29
* South Dakota was a part of Minnesota until Minnesota became a state in 1858.

Tuesday August 30
* Cemetery Tip - Once you find an ancestor's grave it is important to record everyone in the family plot whether you think they are related or not.
* Record the names of the graves near by - sisters, brothers, or cousins may have bought plots near each other.

Wednesday August 31
* Looking for an out of print book? Check the following sites:
* Amazon.com
* Abesbook.com
* Alibris
* World Cat

Thursday September 1
* A Brief History of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry - aka Rough Riders. The site contains a rooster, biographies and more.
* Visit: The Rough Riders Website
* The Rough Riders - A Public Domain Book

Friday September 2
* Genealogy Books - Quicksheet Citing Online Historical Resources - Elizabeth Shown Mills

Saturday September 3
* Attend a State or Local Genealogy Conference!
* Minnesota Genealogical Society Presents the 4th Annual North Star Conference Featuring: George G. Morgan, International Speaker, half of the Genealogy Guys Podcast and author of How to Do Everything: Genealogy and the first two editions of The Official Guide to Ancestry


The picture below is Chuck and his younger brother Billy with some fish they caught! I hope everyone has a safe Labor Day weekend!

Take Care,
Pattie

Memorial Day - Research, Memories and the Younger Generation

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was established on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. The first celebration of Decoration Day was May 30, 1868.

American Cemeteries Overseas

The American Battle Monuments Commissions was formed in 1923 to twenty-four cemeteries overseas. Check out their website if you have an ancestor that may have been buried on foreign soil.

Memorial Day Memories

While growing up Memorial Day was a welcome reminder that school was almost over. Our summer vacation to Michigan would start to take shape and the some of the weekend would be spent on Fox River at the Picnic Grove which was always a treat. On holiday weekends Aunt Mabel and Uncle Sandy would launch their boat at the Picnic Grove and everyone would go skiing (everyone but me, the non-swimmer).

For my grandmother, Florence Schwemm Pahlke, the days leading up to Memorial Day were busy. Grandma was busy in the basement of her home cleaning and arranging the floral arrangements. Every Memorial Day grandma would decorate the family plots and on Labor Day weekend she would pick up the arrangement. Along the way she would tap one of her grandchildren to help and we did.

Earl Pahlke

Memorial Day and the Younger Generation

The question for me and I am sure other parents and grandparents is how to make sure our children understand that Memorial Day is more than a day off from school, a trip to Busch Gardens or a fishing trip.

It is important to talk to the younger generation about their ancestors who served in the military. We also need to help them understand the sacrifices that have been made by too many families through out American History.

One of my favorite ways to get the younger folks interested in history is through books, movies and television. The premiere of Gettysburg on The History Channel Monday evening would be a great time to watch television as a family.

My granddaughter just introduced me to a new series of books for the 9-12 year olds called "I Survived". Currently the series covers the Titanic, Hurricane Katrina and Shark Attack. I have preordered "I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941" The books are published by Scholastic Paper Books.

Creating a summer reading list with and for a younger person in your life would be a great joint activity this Memorial Day weekend.

Take Care,
Pattie