27th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy!

Welcome to the 27th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy! In honor of Independence Day, aka the Fourth of July, the topic is "What America / Independence Day has meant to my family". Come on along for a ride through these United States and find out what it's all about!

We'll begin in Texas with David Bowles presenting Let Freedom Ring! on July 4th posted at Writing the Westward Sagas. David will be attending a bell-ringing ceremony at the Alamo on July 4th commemorating the ringing of the Liberty Bell in 1776. Sounds like fun, David!

Ken Spangler shares the sad, but inspiring, story of his 4th-great grandfather, John Forbes with An Independence Day Blog! posted at Beyond Fiction. John was held in a prison camp in Canada for three years and died five years after his release. Thanks for sharing Ken.

From Michigan, Jasia presents America the Bountiful posted at Creative Gene Jasia provides us with a glimpse at life for her Polish immigrant ancestors in Detroit in the first half of the 20th century. Great pictures, too. Thank you, Jasia.

John Newmark presents Independent Thinking posted at TransylvanianDutch. With ties to Canada and the United States, to the Confederacy and the Union, to Loyalists and Revolutionaries, John gives us another perspective on what Independence means. Thanks John, for reminding us that there are always two sides to every story.

Jessica Oswalt presents America, the Fourth of July, and my family posted at Jessica's Genejournal. Jessica shares some thoughts on her immigrant ancestors as well as some highlights of past family celebrations. Thanks, Jessica.

From Florida, Denise Olson presents Celebrating Independence posted at Moultrie Creek. A very important civics lesson was learned by Denise in 1968 while spending the summer in the Panama Canal Zone. Indeed! Thank you for sharing your experience with us Denise.

Cheryl Schulte, from Michigan, presents Life in the Great Southwest.....of Michigan posted at Two Sides of the Ocean. The fifth generation of her family to live in southwest Michigan, Cheryl remembers some previous Fourth of July celebrations in St. Joseph and shares some pictures as well. (I love what the St. Joseph community did with the Carousel Horses and the Bears!) Thanks, Cheryl.

TK shares two posts with us saying "They're right on topic, but I can't claim anything but stewardship for either of them." First off is 4th of July, 1909 posted at Before My Time and then This Land We Hold posted at Dark Tigers. You just have to click on the picture in the first post to see all of the amazing detail, it's an awesome photo! Thanks for sharing both items with us, TK.

Lori Thornton presents What Does America & Independence Day Mean to My Family? posted at Smoky Mountain Family Historian. Lori tells the tale of her grandfather, James Thomas Thornton, who fought in World War I and shares some memories of family celebrations. Thank you, Lori.

From Indiana, Becky Wiseman (that would be me ;-) presents Independence Day - No, Not the Movie posted at Kinexxions. Links to biographies of two of my immigrant ancestors are provided as well as some thoughts on immigration and Independence Day.

footnoteMaven presents Respect Honors No Political Persuasion posted at footnoteMaven. fM tells of the death of Sergeant Page Warren who was killed in action in 1944 and Staff Sgt. Casey Combs who was killed in Afghanistan this year. Thank you for sharing their stories, fM.

Bill West presents LIFE, LIBERTY AND..... posted at West in New England. Bill shares his thoughts and provides a somewhat different perspective of what Independence Day means. Thanks, Bill.

From California, Randy Seaver presents America means "Freedom for all" posted at Genea-Musings. Randy gives us a brief history lesson on the signing of the Declaration of Independence as well as some thoughts on what it means to him. I understand what he means when he says he feels a bit "cheated" with not having recent immigrant ancestors. Thank you for sharing, Randy.

Craig Manson presents Only in America posted at GeneaBlogie. Craig shares some thoughts on being "related to those who were in bondage as well as those who held them there" and what living in America means to him. Thank you very much, Craig.

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The following articles are technically not part of the Carnival since they weren't submitted by their authors, but I found them while browsing and I think they are appropriate for this edition of the carnival:

Freedom Took a Long Time by George G. Morgan posted at Ancestry's Family History Circle.

Also at Family History Circle, Juliana Smith provided a link to The American Dream: The History Of The Fourth Of July an article by Forbes.com writer Mark Lewis.

Another interesting and quite an amusing story, by Ted Goeglein The Dynamite's Red Glare, is from a link at NewMexiKen, a non-genealogy blog that I frequently visit.

Jasia posted Immigrants Old and New with a link to On Letting Go: How we become American by Peggy Noonan.

FootnoteMaven followed up Jasia's post with America For Me! which contains the full text of a poem quoted by Peggy Noonan.

At Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi Why I Don't Like Fire Trucks and the 4th of July by Terry Thornton recounts his experience with a fire truck in the early 1950's.

For a taste of celebrations in the early 1900's head on over to The Itawamba Historical Society for An Independence Day Picnic in the Hills: July 4, 1912 or to Whitley County Kinexxions for a
Fourth of July in Whitley County, 1917

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Thanks very much to everyone who participated. It's been a great ride and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I must also add a special THANK YOU to JASIA for implementing and hosting the Carnival of Genealogy, for as I now know, it does take quite a bit of time. However, I must also say, it is well worth the effort!

That concludes this edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. And now it's time for a Call for submissions! Jasia will be hosting the next edition at Creative Gene and the deadline for submissions will be July 15th.

The topic for the next Carnival of Genealogy will be: Surnames! Pick a surname on your tree and tell us about it. What are it's ethnic origins? Has it morphed over time as your family has used it? (or at Ellis Island ;-) What does it mean? Is it common or rare? What are the common misspellings? Any famous people or places with your surname?

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.