Past speaks in many voices

"They say you should give a child roots and wings. Here are your roots. Be proud that a tiny bit of each of these people has gone into making you the person you are today and the person you will become. Now spread your wings and soar."

As John Steinbeck once said, "How will our children know who they are if they don't know where they came from?"

We are a people to whom the past is forever speaking. We listen to it because we cannot help ourselves. The past speaks to us in many voices.

With all the homecomings, Trumann Wild Duck Festival, Marked Tree Delta Cotton Pickin Jubilee and Lepanto Terrapin Derby and of course the upcoming birthday (centennial) of Lepanto, it made me a little curious about the heritage and history of our communities and about our ancestors.

When I was younger, I didn't care much for listening to stories about "when I was a kid" or "years ago..." from anyone, but now things are different. I wish I had asked my grandparents more questions about when they were growing up.

I did a little web searching this weekend and came up with a few fascinating websites about Arkansas history, Lepanto, Marked Tree and Poinsett County in general. I am sure there are a lot more out there but I learned some interesting things.

For instance, Arkansas Ties (www.arkansasties.com), created by Pris Weathers, is a great site. She has a little bit of everything pertaining to Arkansas and even gives you the opportunity to add something about your family and your community.

Another great spot is the Poinsett County ARGen Web (http://backwardbranch.com/arpoinsett) The coordinator, Terri Buster, does a good job informing us about the history, queries, records and more. She also allows you to post.

The Arkansas Roadside Travelogue (http://arkansasroadstories.com) is a great source for AR History.

The Encyclopedia of AR History & Culture (www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net) was also a great website that was full of interesting stories.

Here are just a few that were all so informative and interesting:

City of Lepanto (www.lepantoaralumni.com/CITYOFLEPANTOHOMEPAGE.html)

City of Marked Tree (www.markedtreearkansas.org/)

Poinsett County Genealogy (users.bscn.com/~harryv/)

Poinsett County (www.poinsettcounty.us)

East Poinsett County alumni (http://www.alumniclass.com/eastpoinsettcounty); Trumann High School Alumni (www.alunmiclass.com/trumannhsar) and Marked Tree High School (www.alumniclass.com/markedtree) Potter Memorial Cemetery find a grave (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=55790&CScnty=148&CSsr=21&) you can even change the cemetery; Potter Memorial Cemetery (http://www.bscn.com/~harryv/lepancc.htm) and The AR Tourist Info Directory (http://www.touristinformationdirectory.com/Arkansas/chamber%20of%20commerce.htm) ; AR: The Natural State (http://www.arkansas.com/)

"If you stop learning you will forget what you already know" Proverbs 19:27

I am grateful for the people that took the time to record all this information because it is the best way to remember what we are apt to forget. Thank you to the people that maintain these websites so our generation will not forget the sacrifices made to make our families, towns and communities what they are today.