Preserve Your Family History!

by Scott Eckley
(Atlanta, Ga)

During our last family reunion we watched a two hour video (DVD) that I had created that documented our family history from about 1900 to 1950. It was narrated by my 82 year old mother who was good at telling stories - her own, or those told to her from her parents/grandparents. I took her narration and combined it with old photographs and home movies. It was fantastic. A few people - in their eighties now - were in the room that, in the movie, were just young kids. About thirty of us (ranging from 8 to 88) gathered around a large screen TV and watched and listened. You could have heard a pin drop throughout the whole video.

It was a wonderful journey; living the past with her. I learned so much and have so much more respect for her, my family and those that lived during that period of time. I recommend you consider doing something similar. Share it at your next reunion - and take lots of copies. I gave out a dozen of them.