I was going to post this yesterday for Veterans Day but I couldn't find the pictures. The picture on the left is that of my GGGGGGGG uncle who served in the unit shown during the American Revolution. I looked for this grave for years and finally found it just down the road from me and within a mile of so of where Flight 93 hit the ground. The picture on the right is the hilltop site of the grave. A local boy replaced his original stone with a modern day military stone as a project for his Eagle Scout award but he got the death year wrong - it's actually supposed to be 1813. This farm was, at the time of his death, his daughter's. Michael's brother Jacob, my GGGGGGGG grandfather, was also a veteran of this same unit but I haven't been able to find his grave yet, but I will. After many years of searching, I was finally able to join the Sons of the American Revolution using both of them as confirmed ancestors. From where I was standing when I took the overall picture, Flight 93 crashed about 2 miles behind me. I am proud to say that along with these two, I have quite a few other ancestors who assisted (donated arms, money, food, etc) the Continental Army and are thus considered usable for entrance into the SAR. I am also proud to say that my family has been here since long before that revolt took place and have defended this nation in every war up to and including Viet Nam! God Bless them all!

Very interesting. Be proud of them

I can't imagine a more beautiful place to be buried. Still looks pretty rural--wonder if it's really changed that much from your uncle's day.

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Possum—The other white meat!

Interesting thread Reb. As are most of yours.

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wanna do right-- not right now

This is an astounding story-wow-talk about having a bond with our nation.

Well, PA Rebel that changes the mental image that I got from your username before reading this post.

I now have an added measure of understanding and respect for your moniker and what it stands for.

A belated happy Memorial Day to you and your kin.

After thought.

Is there any particular back story to your Avatar?

I truly don't want to get caught in an argument about loyalties or anything but ~ It's probably a long boring story but in a nutshell - The CSA battle flag (note that it is an authentic battle flag and not the modern day reproduction used by so many as a symbol for hate) that I use as my avatar means one thing to me - honor for the men that stood up and fought for what they believed in. The men that fought and died under that flag did not do it because of the "slavery issue", they did it because they felt they, their states, and the intent of the original U.S. Constitution were being trampled on by the federal government. Thus, I have always defended the southern cause because they stood up for and fought for their Constitutional rights. The slavery issue was later added into the mix by Lincoln and that lie continues to be preached to this day. I also had many ancestors that fought in the Union army for whatever it was they believed in (probably for the miniscule income) but I think I must be genetically wired to sympathize with the side that isn't afraid to stand up for their beliefs as the south did in the 1860s and the patriots did in the late 1700s. My forefathers stood up for what they believed in their hearts to be right and I guess I've been bred to do the same. Thus, a Yank by birth but a Johnny Reb by choice! I hope that all makes a little sense.

I would imagine it looks pretty much the same now as it did then except there were probably a few more trees then. The stones piled off to the side have now been re-stacked around the grave also. What I find fascinating is the fact that the town of Shanksville is directly behind me and the location of the Flight 93 crash is directly behind that on a facing hillside. I immediately realized that my patriot ancestor buried here is facing the patriots buried over there. When one stands there in contemplation, it creates a very somber yet proud scene.

Like you my GGGGGrandfather, I think I got that right, fought in the Revolutionary War. He fought in the Battle of Ninety-Six, a small town in SC, and spent time guarding a lead mine in VA. He liked SC so after the war he moved there and that is how my family came to be from the great state of South Carolina.

And like you my family has been there for most of the wars fought since then right on through Viet Nam. I can't find one involved in the War of 1812 though. They all fought on the side of the South during the Civil War and as you said not because of slavery but more for States Rights.

I may not be in the South now as I live in AZ but I will always be a Southerner at heart and when it comes time to be placed in the ground I want it to be in the South.

[QUOTE=Roadtrash;I may not be in the South now as I live in AZ but I will always be a Southerner at heart and when it comes time to be placed in the ground I want it to be in the South.[/QUOTE]

"Every Southerner always comes home, even if it's in a pine box."--Truman Capote.

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Possum—The other white meat!

I know they have a term called: Galvanized Yankee, so does that mean your a Galvanized Confederate?

Welcome to the Southern Brotherhood.

Ummmm......I suppose that would be one way to describe my sentiments. The only way I can personally answer that is by saying again what I said above - Yank by birth, Johnny Reb by choice !

Thats good enough in my book. The only thing I dont like about down here--too easy to get hurricanes--oh nad-copious amounts of those little blood-suckers known as: Mosquitos..