By Mary Nadal

It’s that time of year to say Happy Birthday to our country! The United States turns 233 this July 4th, the day that the colonial Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.

Celebrating our nation’s birthday is the perfect opportunity to look back and get in touch with your heritage, both our shared heritage as Americans and your own family’s unique history. Explore your family’s history through genealogy or heritage travel, or celebrate the nation with traditional American songs or visiting historical sites.

Oh Say Can You Sing
A study by University of Florida researchers revealed that patriotic tunes, folk songs and lullabies that have been passed down for generations are in danger of disappearing, mostly due to the fact that children today rarely learn these songs from either their parents or at school. Songs like "Home on the Range," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "America the Beautiful" are being replaced with pop songs by Britney Spears and Eminem. The study showed that even the national anthem has fallen by the wayside, as few students could sing “The Star Spangled Banner” by heart.

“When people stand up and don’t sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ there’s a reason for that,” Marilyn Ward, the study’s author, said. “They don’t know it.”

On this Fourth of July, take the opportunity to sing traditional American songs with your children and teach them the words. Think about which folk songs and lullabies you enjoyed as a child – you may take for granted that your children know them, but they may not.

Teach your children “The Star Spangled Banner” as well as the patriotic customs associated with it (such as standing when it is played). The U.S. Code states:

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart….When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.

Genealogy
Most kids love to play detective, looking for clues and searching for answers. What better way to put this interest to work than to play detective with your family history?

Genealogy - the study of one's ancestors - has boomed in popularity as more and more families become internet savvy in researching their heritage. Ancestry sites abound online, offering different ways to track your forefathers (and mothers), organize your findings, and connect with distant relatives here and abroad. Many states and localities have archived records online that can reveal information about births, deaths and marriages.

These technological tools can be terrific, but the old-fashioned way may lead to richer information. Have your kids ask their grandparents or older relatives about their grandparents and families. Where did my ancestors come from? Are we a family of recent immigrants, or have we been in this country since before Christopher Columbus arrived? What was life like when you were my age? Asking these questions can help children connect to older generations and bring families closer.

Genealogy can also be a great introduction to history. Try connecting historical events in world or American history to family historical events. For example, figure out when Great-Grandpa would have been the same age as your child and identify what was happening in the world at that time. Was it during the Great Depression? During World War II? Tailor these to the age and maturity level of your child. A four-year-old may not be old enough to understand events like the Holocaust, but an eleven-year-old might be and might be further interested by reading a book like the Diary of Anne Frank.

Adopted Children
What about those whose families include adopted children? These families may be in a unique position to celebrate more than one culture: the culture of the biological family as well as the culture of the adoptive family.

An American family of British ancestry that has adopted children born in China may choose to explore the British heritage while also learning about Chinese customs and traditions. They may also consider hosting exchange students from China to give the family a new and different perspective and letting the children get to know someone from their country of origin. Or perhaps they would explore Chinese literature that is appropriate for children to give them a wider understanding of that nation and culture.

One family with adopted children from Russia celebrates Russian holidays and is learning Russian together as a way to connect to the children's native heritage. Another family with an adopted daughter from Mexico plays music from traditional and popular Mexican singers and has learned to prepare authentic Mexican dishes.

Heritage Travel
One exciting aspect of exploring your heritage is traveling to the places where your bloodline originated. Experiencing the places, monuments and cultural events of one’s place of origin can be an emotional way to connect to the past. For some, this may mean a trip to Ireland to visit the areas where the original O’Connors came from.

However, there’s no need to travel across the ocean to get in touch with your roots. There are historical sites right here in Georgia that can be meaningful to your heritage. For example, many African-Americans are visiting historic places throughout the state to rediscover the struggles and the triumphs of the civil rights movement. One popular location is the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, which includes MLK’s birthplace in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn district as well as Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King and his father once preached.

Our Shared Heritage
No matter where in the world our ancestors came from, we all share a common heritage in the melting pot of the United States. Independence Day provides an opportunity to explore this heritage whether it's reading historical stories, visiting historical sites, or simply discussing what being an American means to you and your family.

There’s no shortage of historic places to visit to learn more about our country’s history. Here are some ideas for places in Georgia as well as some farther afield.

In Georgia
Savannah. The oldest city in Georgia (and its original capital), Savannah was founded in 1733 and its Historic District is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. Savannah features a Railroad Museum, two important Civil War-era forts (Fort Jackson and nearby Fort Pulaski) and several historic cemeteries like Bonaventure Cemetery. The Historic District also houses the birthplace and home of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low and was the first Girl Scout meeting place. Finish your day with a meal at the legendary Pirates’ House Restaurant, which served as an inn for sailors since 1753 and became frequented by famous pirates in the 18th century.

Kennesaw Mountain. In late June, 1864, Kennesaw Mountain saw some of the heaviest fighting of the Civil War's Atlanta Campaign. Today the area is designated as a national battlefield park and visitors can see original battle trenches on the mountain as well as watch costumed interpreters reenact the battle.

Dahlonega. Dahlonega was the site of America’s first gold rush; gold was discovered there in 1828 at the Calhoun Mine, some twenty years before it was found in California. The town also boasts a charming historic Courthouse Square and kids can pan for gold while learning about the town's history at area mines.

Roosevelt's Little White House. In 1932, soon-to-be President Franklin D. Roosevelt built the "Little White House" in Warm Springs, about an hour south of Atlanta. The warm, mineral-rich spring waters were reputed to aid in the treatment of polio, which Roosevelt had contracted as a child. It was here while posing for a portrait that Roosevelt suffered a fatal stroke and died. That portrait, known as the "Unfinished Portrait" is on display in the museum, and the rest of the house appears mostly as it did during Roosevelt's time.

Etowah Mounds. Just south of Cartersville lies the crowning achievement of the very first Georgians - the Native Americans of the Mississippean culture. A nationally famous archeological site, the mounds are part of an ancient 54- acre town. Climb the 60+ ft high mounds and visit the museum featuring relics that reveal clues to the rich history of this prehistoric civilization.

Outside Georgia
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg allows you to relive the colonial era in a “living history museum” as you stroll through a completely recreated colonial town with original buildings and ‘citizens’ in authentic 18th century clothing. Kids can learn colonial dances, take part in a witch trial, march with the fifes and drums, and watch practicing tradesmen like blacksmiths and leatherworkers create items with 18th century methods and tools.

Washington, D.C. Our nation’s capital is a must-see for those wishing to explore America’s history. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, White House, Capitol, Smithsonian museums are some of the most well-known attractions for families. But you might also want to visit the National Arboretum, a “museum” for plants that includes an amazing collection of thousands of types of trees, shrubs and plants, the National Postal Museum, featuring a whole section devoted to kids and stamp collecting, or the International Spy Museum, which details the history of espionage.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original patriotic city, Philadelphia is where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence at what is now known as Independence Hall (the US Constitution was also signed here). Philadelphia is also home to the Liberty Bell, one of the country’s most famous symbols of independence. Not far from the Liberty Bell is Franklin Court, where Ben Franklin’s home once stood and where a Franklin impersonator tells stories in the summertime. Kids especially will love one of the “Ghost Tours” offered in the city, a spooky way to explore Philadelphia’s history.

 

Heritage Resources

Music and Folk Songs
The Kodaly Center at Holy Names University maintains an extensive American Folk Song Collection that is also available online at http://kodaly.hnu.edu/. Their site allows you to search for songs by grade level, region/state/origin, song type (lullaby, singing game, etc.) or musical category.

Lyrics to many traditional folk songs as well as recordings of some are also available at http://www.americanfolklore.net/american-folksongs.html

Genealogy
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/topics/hobbies/genforms.htm has forms designed especially for kids to fill out to interview relatives and family trees to complete.

Roots For Kids: A Genealogy Guide for Young People by Susan Provost Beller will “give kids both the tools and appetite to learn more about their roots and to uncover the stories and events that make them and their families unique.”

Adopted Children
The Mixed Heritage Center provides resources for those of mixed heritage, including transracial adoptees. Online at www.mixedheritagecenter.org

Heritage Travel
The National Register of Historic Places provides an itinerary for Atlanta historic sites here: http://www.nps.gov/history/Nr/travel/atlanta/

Shared Heritage
The National Archives’ website allows you to read many of our country’s most important documents online, such as the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html