Genealogy while not my favorite thing to do can be very interesting. According to relatives, my ancestry can be traced directly to pilgrims on the Mayflower, who left Europe to create a better life. These brave souls begat heroes who crossed the Delaware with George Washington on Christmas Eve for freedom in a new country. Later more relatives answered the call joining the North in the Civil War; one even becoming a Union Colonel spending years suffering in Andersonville Prison, where almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements. More descendants crossed the United States searching for freedom and finding a truth. Eventually both my grandfathers fought in World War II, one of them being stationed at Peal Harbor on that fateful day in December 1941.

In today’s world, we lack heroes and to me, these men and woman are heroes. These unique individuals gave up all that they had in the pursuit of a better tomorrow. All of these brave souls gave up their “me and mine” for future generations. Without taking a chance on the Mayflower, I might not be an American, not fighting for freedom I could have been ruled by a King, not preserving for the Union and battling for freedom we might not be the United States, not crossing the continent in pursuit of dreams I might not be a Californian, not aiding allies I might be a native Japanese speaker. I walk in freedom in my native United States because my ancestors were brave, heroic souls who gave their best for a better tomorrow. I am truly grateful for their sacrifice.