The Mixed American

As you all well know by now i like to write and cook  (love to cook).  but I do have another passion.

For the past 15 or so years I have been the self assigned family historian.  I have traced my family tree, on my Fathers Great Grandmother side, back to the year 67.  That's right, you read it correctly 67.  My Father's ancestral lineage is all kinds of European.  British, German, Scottish, Irish, French, Swedish and the list goes on.  He was blondish with hazel eyes and resembled James Dean, back in the day.

My Mother's side was a little trickier. My Mother's Father is half Hungarian and half German.  His Father was Hungarian and his Mother was German.  I can't really go any farther that that.  Back at the turn of the 1900, people migrated to America from all over.  They didn't keep detailed records like we do these days.  So of course, his mother lied about her name and where she was from.  I can only trace her back to her Ellis Island records. My Mother's Mother was Spanish/Basque.  I have traced her family back to French Basque around the year 1500 from Spain through Mexico then in America.

While researching my family's ancestors I have learned a lot about them.  There have been everything from farmers to brick layers to Ministers.  Some were in the Union Army and some were in the Confederate Army.  Some were even Comanche and Cheyenne Indian.  One even walked in the Trail of Tears. 

There were Christians, Catholics, Protestants, Baptists and even Mormans.

You ask, "Why am I saying all this?"  Well, it just proves that we, as Americans, are a big giant mix of a little bit of everything.  I maybe a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but I consider myself 100% American, Texan actually.  I am all about America, John  Wayne and Apple Pie as you can get.  I support our troops, not the cause or the leader, but our troops.  They are the ones that are risking their lives and devoting their lives to keep us free and safe. 

Just about everyone in my family, including some strong women, have been in either the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and yes, even the Marines.  My Mother did wear combat boots.  She was a WAC in the Army during the Vietnam Era as was my Father.  I had one Great Uncle on the ship at the time the surrender was signed by Japan.  Another was actually at Pearl Harbor during the raid.  My Grandfather, now 100 years old and still alive and kicking, was in Germany during WWII.

We, as Americans, ALL have a rich history to be proud of.  Let's hope our children and grandchildren can say the same about us.

---