Your past is the key to your future - How can this be?

It is because if you know your past you either take the positive heritage of your ancestors into your life or you deny the direction of their lives.

I did not know that I had a Great-Grandfather who was a patriot and fought on the Continental Line during the Revolutionary War.

I did not know that another Great Grandfather died while serving in the 13th Michigan Infantry and is buried at Nashville National Cemetery in Tennessee.

I did not know that I was related to Major Henry Reed Rathbone who was in the booth at the Ford Theater with Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated or that he was stabbed six times and suffered so much guilt over not stopping John Wilkes Booth that he went crazy 20 years later.

I did not know that his son, my uncle was killed at the Battle of Seccessionville in South Carolina just 2 months later on Jume 16, 1862 while serving in the 8th Michigan Infantry.

I did not know of the wife and mother (My Great-Grandmother) who lost her husband in April of 1863 and her son in June of 1862 and was left on the homestead with 5 children aged 10 and under to raise without a father and big brother. Who lost the family farm they homesteaded because of the sacrifice during this Civil War.

I had other uncles who fought and died during the civil war and WW2, two uncle who were first into the concentration camps at the end of WW2.

I never entered into the service of our country because I did not know who I was and my heritage.

My family is a family that fought and died for our country and it is now too late for me to serve as they did because I was never told the stories I am discovering today.

These stories now motivate me to tell them to my children and grand children because they need to know.

Why does it make a difference?

Because knowing the past directs the thoughts of the future and offers the ability to raise the bar and change the future.

I take pride in my ancestors and I am sure you have family in your past that you can be proud of too!

Start searching today and share with your children and grandchildren the heritage they need to know.

Call 616-634-3296 or email me with your request for help and I