Roots Television | Og Blog

Og's just posted the new video Wartime Pen Pal to the site. When an army of fly boys descended on Walnut Ridge for training during WWII, Arkansas pastor Robert Bearden became a pen pal to many of these young boys' parents. Keeping worried moms in touch with their sons, comforting the community, and even baking cakes for homesick soldiers, the Reverend Bearden and his wife enjoyed the most exciting time in their 60 years of service.

If you or someone you know has a stash of wartime letters of your own, you should also check out Andrew Carroll's War Letters and Legacy Project.

Og from Roots Television

Here's a bit of trivia - did you know that Waterloo, NY is officially credited with being the birthplace of Memorial Day? Dating back to the 1860's, it is likely that Memorial Day actually found its beginnings in several different towns as people gathered to honor their dead.

Over the years, the meaning of Memorial Day has diminished somewhat as we all (Og included) tend to head out to the lake for the long weekend. So maybe it's time to peek into the past and see what oldtime Memorial Day celebrations were really like. As we're enjoying our well-deserved time with family this holiday, let's see whether we can honor the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time, and pause to remember and respect those who gave their lives for their country.

Og from Roots Television

Thanks to Susan at Family Oral History and Jennifer at JacksBox4U for spotting our interview with War Letters author Andrew Carroll. When Andrew's home burned down years ago, he was surprised to find that what he missed the most were the letters he lost. Andrew was inspired to start the Legacy Project, which collects and preserves correspondences from all of America's wars and on any subject matter. In his interview he tells how the project began and shares several of the unique and touching letters that he has collected. Thanks again Susan and Jennifer!

Og from Roots Television

For over 15 years, the Worcester Wreath Company of Maine has donated wreaths to adorn the graves of veterans at Arlington National Cemetery. What began as a small gesture of respect in 1992 has become the Wreaths across America project. You can watch the project in action here. On Saturday, December 15, 2007 wreath ceremonies will be held across the U.S. in several locations.

Og from Roots Television

Dick Eastman interviews The Royal Tank Corps at Who Do You Think You Are? Live! 2008. Learn more about the life and conditions of men serving in the Corps during World War I.

Also hear from Brian Swann, ISOGG's European Coordinator for England and Wales. The International Society of Genetic Genealogy works to educate others about the use of genetics in genealogy through workshops, their website, speaker's bureau, forums, and meetings.

As always, there's something for every interest in Roots TV. Whether you're into Military and DNA, or British Roots and Family Reunions, there's a channel here for you. Take a second to browse or search the program guide - you might be surprised what you can find!

Og from RootsTelevision.com