Promoting perseverance, not politics
Immigration seems to be the topic of discussion everywhere I go these days. People are once again taking to the streets demanding immigration reform. Immigration is nothing new to any of us. It’s been with us since our country was discovered.
In researching my heritage, I have found that my ancestors arrived in Holland from Germany and boarded the ship named Ann Galley out of Rotterdam, Holland, by way of the Orkneys, Scotland, and docked in the harbor of Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 1746. Each brought with them the essence of what makes America the great country it is today.
This new country held hope for all who were willing to sacrifice everything they had for a mere dream. My Boone ancestors dreamed big as they settled in Virginia and North Carolina. My grandfather was 2 years old when his parents, along with his eight siblings, left North Carolina and settled in the coal and gas valley of Greenwood, Ark. It just seems fitting that I have settled in the Carbon Valley of Firestone. It’s in my genes.
When I think of perseverance, I can only imagine the adversities they endured in settling this land we call home. I can’t begin to comprehend the amount of perseverance, stamina and courage it took for them to forge a new life in the new, unsettled, unknown country.
They weren’t politically aligned with Democrats, Republicans or Independents. If asked, they probably could not tell you if they were conservative, moderate or liberal. They were just immigrants seeking better lives for themselves and their families. I doubt that my ancestors had anything in mind other than establishing roots and settling down and making a living to support their families.
My cousins and I have been back to the old Boone farm many times during the past years. Progress has changed the area, much the same as it has changed the Carbon Valley. The road that ran beside my grandfather’s farm has been named “Boone Road” to honor the family that settled the area.
When I was a young girl, I had the privilege of spending many Saturdays and Sundays on the old home place. I loved roaming around the countryside, picking pears off the trees, enjoying the sweetness of the fresh fruit. I loved going barefoot, climbing trees and slipping off to the barn and falling asleep in the hayloft. Life seemed so simple, real and refreshing. So much in the Carbon Valley reminds me of the place of my childhood. I still enjoy the rural aspect of our area, even though much is changing as we grow. Some say we are growing too fast, some say not fast enough. However, we are still able to enjoy the beauty of our area with its simple, real and refreshing characteristics that many envy.
Have you considered your heritage lately? You can discover who you are by simply looking back and asking your parents and grandparents to talk about their memories. In this day and age of electronics, our past can come alive for our families. Our heritage allows us to not only celebrate who we are, but also gain a better understanding and clear vision of who we want to become.