What History Means To Me

2001 Winning Essay, High School

History makes us. My values, personality, talents and passions are largely what they are because of history; this has become increasingly apparent upon studying my genealogy. I share character traits and passions with many of my grandparents and great-grandparents, traits I thought I had formed for myself. The effect of history on my family and therefore myself is very evident. History has played a huge part in the person I am today.

My great-grandfather Jacob, whose name I share, was fearful in his emigration from Finland to the United States in 1872—Russian domination of Finland at that time meant young able men were being conscripted into the Czar's military machine. Jacob's travel to North America landed him in Canada, and he traveled by train and wagon to Michigan, always concerned he might be sent back to pre-war Finland. In Michigan he was a founding pioneer of a small farm community that regularly sent financial and tangible support to those left under the Czar's rule in Finland. Jacob introduced the concept of the farmers' cooperative, founded a Lutheran church, and raised 14 children, all but one earned master's degrees at institutions such as Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Jacob and his wife never learned to speak English.

As a sergeant in the Army in World War I, another great-grandfather, Earl "Tex" Kennedy, led a recovery mission in a reclaimed section of France, Chamery, seeking President Theodore Roosevelt's missing son Quentin. A young and relatively inexperienced pilot, Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt was shot down behind enemy lines by German aces. Hope quickly faded that he may have been taken prisoner. My grandfather located his grave; he was buried by the French countrywoman who lovingly hung his dog tags on the marker. President Roosevelt protested vigorously the suggestion that his body be moved home for burial, saying, "Where a tree falls, let it lie." The President died before visiting the site, but Mrs. Roosevelt visited in early 1919 and erected the current headstone. The story was confirmed by famous ace Eddie Rickenbacker when he testified in December 1919 before a house subcommittee.

My grandfather Paul Goodman contributed to my love of music. He was among the musicians who eagerly spread the new genre of jazz music north from New Orleans in the 1920s. Aside from gigs with Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington, in 1936 he toured Europe with his own swing jazz band and spent a week at the Olympics in Berlin. That event was structured to show the world that Germans were dominant and the Third Reich was a world super power. Jazz music was eventually outlawed, but during his visit, his was the voice of resistance among the Swing Kids. He wrote to his parents about sitting four rows behind Hitler at an Olympic swimming event—he could not have known then that eight years hence he would be taken prisoner from the front lines of the devastating Battle of the Bulge. As he was being liberated from Stalag VIB near Dresden in April, 1945, Hitler was taking his own life just 70 miles away.

Right now I am very exited about attending college, but I realize that a large part of that excitement and opportunity is because of history. I am able to go to the college that I want and study whatever I want because both of my grandfathers fought for the world in WWII. I value education as highly as I do because my great-grandfather Jacob instilled that value in my family upon his arrival in America. I use music, my violin and guitar, to express my emotions, but I would not have that wonderful outlet if it were not for my grandfather's love of music and experience with jazz in the 20s and 30s. What will my place be in history? Unlike my values and personality, coming so largely from my heritage, the question of my future will only be answered by me. My personal values and many of my wonderful opportunities are because of history—to me, history means me.

by A. Goodman-Bacon
Sponsoring Teacher: Ms. Guire
Michigan
March 2001