My Great-Grandfather : The Cornerstone Of My Family

Author Harriette Pipes McDoo addresses how family values are influenced by racism in her book, Black Families. She expounds that the challenges faced by African American families have given them the ability to strengthen their core family values through overcoming racially fueled injustices (McDoo 69-71). Factors like racism, poverty, and the fight for equal rights are all factors which vary across the nation within each household affecting individual family value systems. Along with the challenges of adversity, each passing generation inside of American culture have emphasized less and less on multigenerational relationships with families moving and growing into new families to new locations. This rift in the familial structure stems from the evolution of the traditional family combined with the self-motivated desire to succeed

So you wanted to know about some of my family history. My Grandparents have worked extremely hard for what they have got and don’t take any of it for granted. They all have been good role models, and have set good examples for us Grand-Kids. Even though they have dug some holes for themselves they all have dug themselves back out of that hole, and came back stronger. Now they have made it possible for us not to make the same mistakes that they have

“Yet another boring, standard Monday morning.” Richard sighed as he walked to wake the men up. “Attention!” Richard called out loudly to the groggy and fatigued Marines. The men immediately woke up and began their rigorous routine of drills for the day, which are: eating a hearty breakfast, run 2 miles, then do the obstacle course, and then everyone's favorite part, the shooting range. Then, as always, Diedrich Manfred was horsing around again, playing with his rifle. “You no good scoundrel!” Richard shouted walking over to Diedrich Manfred.

My family has shaped who I am today. What is so special about my family, though, is how close we are. I see my cousins almost every week and there is never a dull moment with them. My grandparents, Sitto and Grandpa, keep my family going. They have allowed all twenty five of us to live a successful life. My grandfather created Industrial Protection Products and Industrial Protection Services that both sell fire protection products used in departments all over New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. My grandmother, known as Sitto in the Murphy family, assisted him in his work and shared ownership for many years. These two linked companies are run by my dad and my uncle. Without the success of my grandparents, my family along with many other families, would not be the same.

Even after being begged not to move from the tiny apartment to Clybourne Park, an all white part of Chicago, the Youngers decided to move anyway. They decided to take the leap of faith and start a new life in a part of town where they knew they wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms. They knew that they weren’t going to get to their new house and see a gift basket on the front porch. The Youngers had courage though, and they took the chance.

Our family values giving to those in need and living within our means, without debt. My Dad is 71 and has been retired since I was born; a choice made so one of my parents could be home for me. We have lived on one income and have never gone without. We have been saving for college, but have fallen short of the needed funds. Based on our FAFSA, I do not qualify for grant money or need based scholarships. That means the entire burden of my educational expense falls on our family.

Being raised my maternal grandparents; most would say that I have an “old soul”. I would always want to know who my ancestors were and what accomplishments they’ve made to society. My grandparents always stressed the importance of knowing your heritage, respecting your family, maintaining a tight bond with your family members, and carrying on the family’s legacy. I will begin with my maternal side of the family. My maternal grandmother, Kathleen Powell, is the rock and heart of the family. Her parents were Mary and Jack Taylor. Jack was from Brooklyn, New York and Mary was from Suffolk, Virginia. Jack moved down to Suffolk, Virginia to leave with a family member and for work and met Mary at a church gathering with the family friend. Jack and Mary married after dating for 3 months and had three children, Raymond, Jack, and Kathleen. They were a hardworking

The first thing we ever encounter when we enter this world is our family. They nurture us from infancy, into adolescence, then see us off as we make our own way through the world in adulthood. This makes them one of the strongest influences to our world view, with every one of our kin teaching us a different lesson. My father is a shining example of this fact. Every moment I spend with him is a cherished memory. Long before I even came into this world, he pushed himself above and beyond in all that he did. When my little brother and I were born, he made it his goal to ensure that we would never want for anything. He worked himself until he dropped so that we would have every opportunity that he never had as a child. Not once did he give up, or quit, or falter in the slightest. He always emphasized the importance of honesty,

My grandpa Bill Headly should be the 2018 A.A.R.P Grandparent of the year. He is caring about family, hardworking, and a good role model.

The things my grandfather carried through life and from Holland. Opa as we called him carried a lot on his back and on his side. He carried with him the burden of coming to America from Holland, but he also carried with him his passion for art and with that his supplies and carving tools. Starting as a waiter on a ship and traveling across the Atlantic in 1950s. He carried with him the burden of leaving home and crossing this ocean that to him was so large. My grandfather was weighted by being 16 year old making this bold step to leave his family in the world and how he was going to make it in the land of opportunity. He came to America and met my grandmother and was very happy for many years. When he had my dad the weight built because he

I was born into a relatively large family. Family was all I was ever surrounded by and, ever since I could remember, the idea of family and its importance has been drilled into my mind. Living in a mexican american household, this much was expected. And none were a greater example of these ideals than my grandfather, Rogelio Cabrera Sr.

As I walked through the door of the funeral home, the floral arrangements blurred into a sea of vivid colors. Wiping away my tears, I headed over to the collage of photographs of my grandfather. His smile seemed to transcend the image on the pictures, and for a moment, I could almost hear his laughter and see his eyes dancing as they tended to do when he told one of his famous jokes. My eyes scanned the old photographs, searching for myself amidst the images. They came to rest on a photo of Grandpa holding me in his lap when I was probably no more than four years old. The flowers surrounding me once again blended into an array of hues as I let my mind wander……

When we were together we were invincible, us against the world. I’d look up to him, not only because he was 6’4, but because he was my grandpa. I have clear memories of him picking me up from school, playing old school reggae music during our adventurous car rides. We’d always sing along to our favorites, sometimes turn the music up so loud the people in the cars next to us could hear it. When I would visit his apartment, the familiar smell of drywall and pennies would fill the air. It was my hideaway, my home away from home. My grandpa collected pennies in water jugs. He would say that one day they’d be worth more than just pennies. I loved it there, not only because he had a freezer filled with many flavors of ice cream to which he would often say to me “you can have all you can eat” but because it was our time to bond. For five years it was my mom, my dad, and my grandpa helping me to grow. Those are my favorite people, my role models. Being around my grandpa brought me such comfort and joy.

I think the person who has had the most profound effect on my life besides my parents is my grandfather. I never realized before how much of an effect he had on my interests and goals for the future. Years ago, he used to tell me stories about historical events and experiences he had fighting in Vietnam and my great grandfather fighting in World War 2. His vivid descriptions always made it so interesting and, in some cases, more light-hearted than what actually happened. To this day he still has more stories to tell me, and never fails to captivate my interest. In doing this, he opened my eyes to my biggest interest, history, and encouraged me to pursue this interest throughout school. I feel like it would help to give a short summary of his life and how it affected me.

“I can’t believe that’s true!” I exclaimed, my laughter echoing through the room. My grandpa and I had been chatting on the phone for the past half an hour. You would imagine a man his age would be boring and dull. However, he was quite the joker. At least with me, since I was, of course, his favorite granddaughter.