 |
| J. Mark Lowe, CG,* FUGA |
Opening Session—Wednesday, 8:00 a.m., W101
When I think of the Missouri River and the city of St. Charles, I instantly think of Lewis and Clark. When visiting the city however, I am reminded that major journeys require much more than just the beginning. The mighty rivers that join at this place weave the stories of all who sought adventure, wealth, land, and freedom. The voices of many have been heard at this location, and deserve to be recognized for what each sound has taught us.
While traveling by rivers, roads, or rails, our ancestors’ determination pushed them to relocate to a new place with perceived opportunities. Along the way the pioneers struggled with life and death issues, shortage of food and water, unkindness of the elements, equipment malfunctions and breakdowns, dangers of highwaymen and marauders, and then finally they experienced the joy of reaching their destination and new home.
 |
| The Jolly Flatboatmen, 1846** |
Lewis and Clark inspired a nation to move, to consider the broad expanse of our new territory, and to dream of more. The reality for all of us is that those dreams became reality for thousands. Our nation is filled with ancestors from California to Maine and North Dakota to Texas. Every one of us came from a beginning and this location should remind us of those opportunities our family faced. I was encouraged in these efforts by Ann Carter Fleming and Kay Haviland Freilich, who shared the song, “This Land Is Your Land.” When we gather to share our stories, and learn how to find even more stories, there is a time to remember those characters who are our ancestors.
The St. Charles Convention Center displays some wonderful images by the artist, George Caleb Bingham. I feel drawn into his work, and the stories of the community pictured. Whether it be “Country Politician”, “The Emigration of Daniel Boone”, “Canvassing for a Vote” or “Fishing on the Mississippi”, these images remind me of the serious moments required of our family, and the fun times that often become the strongest memories.
While preparing for this conference and my sharing the story of "The Tales of Pioneer Paths: Rivers, Roads, & Rails," I was struck by the thousands of stories I reviewed. The stories of success and failure, along with prayer and song, remind me that each of us is the result of survival, persistence, and small moments of greatness.
I would be remiss if I did not listen to one of America’s great philosophers, Mark Twain, also a Missourian when he shared, "History, although sometimes made up of the few acts of the great, is more often shaped by the many acts of the small."
Please join me in the place of Beginning, as we recognize the efforts of the many and the “acts of the small.”
OPENING SESSION DOOR PRIZES (Winners must be present to claim):
- One free full-conference registration for the NGS 2016 Family History Conference, 4–7 May, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, courtesy of NGS.
- Seven-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square, courtesy of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel
- One-year World Explorer membership to Ancestry.com, courtesy of Ancestry.com
SEE YOU AT OPENING SESSION!
*CG or Certified Genealogist is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by Board-certified genealogists after periodic competency evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.
** The Jolly Flatboatmen, 1846, oil on canvas, 38 1/8 x 48 1/2 in. (96.8 x 123.2 cm)
George Caleb Bingham, American, 1811–1879, Manoogian Collection
Link to Biography of George Caleb Bingham and his work: http://www.georgecalebbingham.org/bio.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment