GeneaBlogs

   I’d like to take this time to thank each and every one of our members for their patience and support the past year. To the ones that contributed to the newsletter goes our gratitude and appreciation. In the past year we have launched our “mother site” Shared Ancestors, a wonderful and informative monthly newsletter, and a great genealogy blogging site – we couldn’t have accomplished so much without you!

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There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. Bless the day. President Roosevelt gives it to us. We hear some talk of the Puritans, but don’t just remember who they were. Bet we can lick ‘em, anyhow, if they try to land again. Plymouth Rocks? Well, that sounds more familiar. Lots of us have had to come down to hens since the Turkey Trust got its work in. But somebody in Washington is leaking out advance information to ‘em about these Thanksgiving proclamations. The big city east of the cranberry bogs has made Thanksgiving Day an institution. The last Thursday in November is the only day in the year on which it recognizes the part of America lying across the ferries. It is the one day that is purely American. Yes, a day of celebration, exclusively American.

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* The pilgrims didn’t use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers.

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There’s a new look for Shared Ancestors on the horizon. So keep checking back often as an updated site with a fresh new look is coming soon!

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Audie Leon Murphy

   Audie Leon Murphy, son of poor Texas sharecroppers, rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations was the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States of America, for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” He also received every decoration for valor that his country had to offer, some of them more than once, including five decorations by France and Belgium. Credited with killing over 240 of the enemy while wounding and capturing many others, he became a legend within the 3rd Infantry Division. Beginning his service as an Army Private, Audie quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, was given a “battle field” commission as 2nd Lieutenant, was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns across the European Theater, and survived the war.

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We are currently upgrading Shared Ancestors. This is a new system installation and conversion. The new system has been installed and we are currently performing some conversions and updates. Members may experience some short, intermittent outages of the web site during the next few days so please be patient! We will be announcing details of the upgrade along with new features this will offer our members so stay tuned!

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This account of the New Madrid Earthquake was recorded by George Heinrich Crist, residing at the time in Nelson County in north-central Kentucky, near the present location of Louisville. It was submitted to The Virtual Times by Floyd Creasey – 4th tier great-grandchild to author, now a Texas resident.

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   The word Halloween comes from the phrase “All Hallows Eve” and is also known as All Hallows Day, All Saint’s Day, All Souls Day, or All Hallowmas Day.  Perhaps the oldest recordings of a celebration on Halloween are that of a druidic fire festival called Samhain. This was celebrated by the Celts in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It meant the closing of a harvest and the beginning of winter. After the Romans conquered most of that territory, they combined two of their own festivals with the traditional Celtic ritual of Samhain. The first Roman festival was called Feralia. This was a day in late October set aside to commemorate the passing of the dead. The second Roman festival was to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of the harvest. Her symbol was the apple, which could be the reason we bob for apples on Halloween.

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