What We Owe the People Who Come After Us

Not long ago, a friend told me about Not long ago, a friend told me about cleaning out his parents' attic. Most of cleaning out his parents' attic. Most of cleaning out his parents' attic. Most of what he found wasn't worth much. A few what he found wasn't worth much. A few what he found wasn't worth much. A few boxes, some old clothes, a stack of boxes, some old clothes, a stack of boxes, some old clothes, a stack of photographs nobody looked at in years. photographs nobody looked at in years. photographs nobody looked at in years. There were report cards, letters, There were report cards, letters, There were report cards, letters, receipts, newspaper clippings, and the receipts, newspaper clippings, and the receipts, newspaper clippings, and the kind of things people save because they kind of things people save because they kind of things people save because they mean something to them, even if they mean something to them, even if they mean something to them, even if they don't mean much to anybody else. don't mean much to anybody else. don't mean much to anybody else. As he sorted through it all, he came As he sorted through it all, he came As he sorted through it all, he came across a photograph of a relative he'd across a photograph of a relative he'd across a photograph of a relative he'd heard about his entire life, but had heard about his entire life, but had heard about his entire life, but had never actually seen. Suddenly, this never actually seen. Suddenly, this never actually seen. Suddenly, this person wasn't just a name in a family person wasn't just a name in a family person wasn't just a name in a family story. He was real. He had a face, a story. He was real. He had a face, a story. He was real. He had a face, a life, life, life, a real story. a real story. a real story. I thought about that conversation I thought about that conversation I thought about that conversation several times lately as our nation moves several times lately as our nation moves several times lately as our nation moves toward its 250th birthday. toward its 250th birthday. toward its 250th birthday. One of the greatest gifts [music] we can One of the greatest gifts [music] we can One of the greatest gifts [music] we can give the next generation is memory. give the next generation is memory. give the next generation is memory. Not nostalgia, not not a life in the Not nostalgia, not not a life in the Not nostalgia, not not a life in the past. past. past. Memory. Memory. Memory. The ability to remember where we came The ability to remember where we came The ability to remember where we came from, what others sacrificed, what from, what others sacrificed, what from, what others sacrificed, what worked, what failed, and what lessons worked, what failed, and what lessons worked, what failed, and what lessons were learned along the way.

were learned along the way. were learned along the way. Every family has stories that deserve to Every family has stories that deserve to Every family has stories that deserve to be remembered. Every community does, be remembered. Every community does, be remembered. Every community does, too. Every nation does. too. Every nation does. too. Every nation does. The danger isn't that we remember too The danger isn't that we remember too The danger isn't that we remember too much. The danger is that we forget. much. The danger is that we forget. much. The danger is that we forget. Because when people lose their memory, Because when people lose their memory, Because when people lose their memory, they eventually lose their bearings. they eventually lose their bearings. they eventually lose their bearings. As we celebrate 250 years of American As we celebrate 250 years of American As we celebrate 250 years of American history, perhaps the most valuable thing history, perhaps the most valuable thing history, perhaps the most valuable thing we can do is tell the stories. we can do is tell the stories. we can do is tell the stories. Not because the past was perfect, but Not because the past was perfect, but Not because the past was perfect, but because the people who come after us because the people who come after us because the people who come after us deserve to know how they got here.