NC Highway Patrol Retirees Association
Artifacts And History
Memories
While attending the graveside services for a retired SHP member, I asked myself about the history we had lost. As I gazed across the many grave sites, I wondered about the life and the history of the ones that had passed on. Had one, or two, or many taken the time to ensure that their personal memories had somehow been recorded.
Moments or memories begin at birth and accumulate throughout life. The memories are stored away and remain from alpha to omega. We often think back over those memories and recall certain images that give us pleasure or sorrow. Hopefully, the happy memories far outnumber the sorrowful ones.
The memories that we hold in our mind are our personal history. That history can be singular or shared. The singular memories are the ones most in danger of being lost forever. But even the shared memories will be lost if not recorded by someone along the way.
Memories become history when that memory is recorded and/or carried forward by the memories of others. How many times have you repeated something that you remembered your grandmother telling you? Will that memory be lost to your children?
The main fault of any history is that the vast majority of memories/history is lost over time or not recorded in real time. And as time goes by, the memories become faint and eventually lost forever to mother time.
Your personal and professional memories are shared memories that have an impact on your family and friends because they are shared memories. But if not recorded, at death, your part of the memory is lost forever.
How much of your history have you shared with the most important people in your life? What part of that history do you wish for them to carry forward? The shared memories can be repeated by those who participated in the experience. But what about those experiences/memories that only you have knowledge.
Try this exercise. Bring back your very first memory. Very first. Is it hard to do? How old were you and what was that memory? Now, what is the newest memory that you can think of at this moment? How many memories do you have between the first and the last? Whether you believe it or not, that is your history because everything else is lost. Don’t you believe that it’s time to jot down in a journal the most important moments/memories of your life? Your children, grandchildren and future generations will benefit from the experience.
The strongest part of any family is the history of our forebearers. We are genetically the image of our ancestors. Isn’t it important that we have a better understanding of where we came from so we can predict where we can go? How important is your history to you? Do you value that history to an extent that you wish for it to be carried on by your children, grandchildren and future generations? Your history is only as factual as what’s recorded in a journal or as someone remembers it.
One method that you can help you with your journal is constructing a family tree. Think about all of the memories you have of each relative. Some items to include in your personal journal; your family history as far back and forward as you know, early childhood, schools, jobs, ambitions, marriage and children. Give examples of funny or interesting incidents that happened during your lifetime. Make it interesting. You’ll enjoy the research.
Many times, when I have been in contact with surviving family members to captured the history of a deceased Highway Patrol member, they can tell of events in later life but unable to tell me much of anything about the middle or early years. The problem we have is remembering and/or recording our family history is that time has a way of destroying memories as years pass. We are sorely lacking in personal histories of our family members. We still have an opportunity to capture some of the history before it is lost forever.
Your journal of memories is a gift. It is a gift of love and fondness for the ones you leave behind. Make your journal as full and thoughtful as possible. It will take some time and effort but it will be a rewarding experience.
Each life is a journey full of memories. Enjoy the trip.Take your family and friends along.Include family and friends in the research of your life and memories.
Libraries and book stores have excellent reference material that can be used to get you started in recording your memories/history. But each and every life is varied and different, so expand and include those memories that are important to your family and friends.Make it personal.
I hope that you haven’t found this personal musing to be boring. I am more conscious of my family history due to the work that I have accomplished recording the history of the Highway Patrol and its members. Your family deserves to know of your accomplishments and your part in the history of your family.
Bill Ethridge 704.220.6293 e-mail @ sgecwe@gmail.com Visit at www.nchpra.org
The memories that we hold in our mind are our personal history. That history can be singular or shared. The singular memories are the ones most in danger of being lost forever. But even the shared memories will be lost if not recorded by someone along the way.
Memories become history when that memory is recorded and/or carried forward by the memories of others. How many times have you repeated something that you remembered your grandmother telling you? Will that memory be lost to your children?
The main fault of any history is that the vast majority of memories/history is lost over time or not recorded in real time. And as time goes by, the memories become faint and eventually lost forever to mother time.
Your personal and professional memories are shared memories that have an impact on your family and friends because they are shared memories. But if not recorded, at death, your part of the memory is lost forever.
How much of your history have you shared with the most important people in your life? What part of that history do you wish for them to carry forward? The shared memories can be repeated by those who participated in the experience. But what about those experiences/memories that only you have knowledge.
Try this exercise. Bring back your very first memory. Very first. Is it hard to do? How old were you and what was that memory? Now, what is the newest memory that you can think of at this moment? How many memories do you have between the first and the last? Whether you believe it or not, that is your history because everything else is lost. Don’t you believe that it’s time to jot down in a journal the most important moments/memories of your life? Your children, grandchildren and future generations will benefit from the experience.
The strongest part of any family is the history of our forebearers. We are genetically the image of our ancestors. Isn’t it important that we have a better understanding of where we came from so we can predict where we can go? How important is your history to you? Do you value that history to an extent that you wish for it to be carried on by your children, grandchildren and future generations? Your history is only as factual as what’s recorded in a journal or as someone remembers it.
One method that you can help you with your journal is constructing a family tree. Think about all of the memories you have of each relative. Some items to include in your personal journal; your family history as far back and forward as you know, early childhood, schools, jobs, ambitions, marriage and children. Give examples of funny or interesting incidents that happened during your lifetime. Make it interesting. You’ll enjoy the research.
Many times, when I have been in contact with surviving family members to captured the history of a deceased Highway Patrol member, they can tell of events in later life but unable to tell me much of anything about the middle or early years. The problem we have is remembering and/or recording our family history is that time has a way of destroying memories as years pass. We are sorely lacking in personal histories of our family members. We still have an opportunity to capture some of the history before it is lost forever.
Your journal of memories is a gift. It is a gift of love and fondness for the ones you leave behind. Make your journal as full and thoughtful as possible. It will take some time and effort but it will be a rewarding experience.
Each life is a journey full of memories. Enjoy the trip.Take your family and friends along.Include family and friends in the research of your life and memories.
Libraries and book stores have excellent reference material that can be used to get you started in recording your memories/history. But each and every life is varied and different, so expand and include those memories that are important to your family and friends.Make it personal.
I hope that you haven’t found this personal musing to be boring. I am more conscious of my family history due to the work that I have accomplished recording the history of the Highway Patrol and its members. Your family deserves to know of your accomplishments and your part in the history of your family.
Bill Ethridge 704.220.6293 e-mail @ sgecwe@gmail.com Visit at www.nchpra.org
