Memorial Day Message

As we celebrate Memorial Day this next week I started thinking about my ancestors that have passed on before me. My wife and I had the opportunity to go with my mom and dad to visit grave-sites of some of my ancestors on both my mom’s side and my dads side of the family. I found out some things that I didn’t know. My Moms dad died when she was 5 months old. He was a miner in Park City and came down with miners con and TB and had to come to a special hospital here in Ogden. He only saw my mom for a bout 4-5 days of her life before he passed away.

 My Grandma was married again to the man I knew as my Grandpa and he and I were best of friends. The man I knew as my Grandpa is the man that gave me the love of baseball.

 I learned of many aunts and uncles that I had heard of but really didn’t listen to the stories back in the day. We went to about 20 different graves at 3 different cemetery’s. We ended our journey in Kamas Utah where I learned about my dad’s grandpa. Because my dad’s dad passed away when my dad was 12 years old, my dad and his mother moved in with her dad. My dad had a very good relationship with his grandpa just like I did. I  also learned that when this grandpa passed away my dad and a few other men had to dig the grave by hand, this was a very hard experience for my dad. It was very interesting to here all this from my Mom and Dad.

 When we had a genealogy class during Sunday School, I remember Bro and Sister Payne and Bro and sister Ortgiesen talking about doing just this. Talk to your family members that know the Stories of your family. I have begun to write these stories down and save them for my kid and grandkids.

I hope you all take an opportunity or two to learn of your family or to share your stories with your kids and grandkids. Please take a minute in the next day or two and ponder your ancestors and the legacy that they have left you.I miss you all and I pray that all is well with you and your families. We will be together soon. I still love baseball. Just remember “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. ‘. (Babe Ruth)

-Steve Aubrey