Did you know that the United States Congress designated October as “Family History Month” in 2003? The bill from the U.S. Senate includes a long list of reasons for the designation, including these:
Whereas the study of family history gives individuals a sense of their heritage and a sense of responsibility in carrying out a legacy that their ancestors began;
Whereas as individuals learn about their ancestors who worked so hard and sacrificed so much, their commitment to honor their ancestors’ memory by doing good is increased;
I've certainly found both of those statements to be true. As I continue to the tedious work of finalizing the text of The Wathens of Southern Maryland: Their Genealogy & History, I occasionally find myself wondering both, “How much longer is this going to take?” and “Why did I start this project, again?” The two statements above, however, help to capture why I really do continue to find this research worthwhile: Our own lives are greatly enriched by learning about our ancestors from centuries-past.
In celebration of Family History Month, I'd like to offer 10% of preorders for The Wathens of Southern Maryland: Their Genealogy & History and Memorial Page listings in the book through October 31. Simply use the code FAMILYHISTORY at checkout.