FOUR STEPS

This Memorial Day we pay tribute to our fallen veteran’s contributions to American freedom. It reminds us that the phrase “Freedom isn’t Free” is not just words, but a value.  With this value, some very important things have been accomplished by a small number of people for the benefit of many.

When I see the U.S. flag,  I see every color in the fabric as a part of their story and part of their commitment to me and to you.

The way we honor those who’ve sacrificed for us and our country is a measure of our heart. Not only must we be thankful for the freedoms that we have and remember the sacrifices and courage that the fallen veteran has made, but we also must honor their families who supported the efforts for peace and freedom. For without their family’s dedication, those heroes may not have been able to achieve their unselfish deeds.

When you see a Veteran,  ask them to tell their stories

Veteran’s stories can enrich your family.  Be prepared to save the stories….write them down, record them, tell them to one another.  Younger generations are interested to know what it was like.

You may be surprised when you interview a veteran to find that life in the military has many facets beyond war experiences.  Friendships, humor, and revelations are more the norm.

Thank you for taking the time to honor our veterans and their families by asking for and listening to their stories.    In this way, we never forget their deeds or their sacrifice.

Look for our book of tips on interviewing veterans, coming soon.                                                                                                        Sincerely – Kit Dwyer

New Design!   –  This week we are excited to share our new web design and logo!  We hope this will help you to better discover valuable information and services.

The open-hand represents the precious holding of stories that are shared.  The memories we capture are handled with great care, love, and respect.  Each life story is a unique resource on which generations to follow can build their future.

The Leaves are little gems from a larger treasure – all the things I love about trees!

• Stem and vein patterns remind us that we are a part of life’s web, all interconnected.
• Leaves have infinite shapes, sizes, colors, and combinations of colors that change over time, like us and our stories.
• In science, we learned that leaves breathe in their surroundings and exhale life-giving qualities.  Scientific studies have also shown that by sharing family stories, next generations gain a good emotional foundation and resilience to life‘s challenges!

When I was little, I learned to preserve leaves and flowers by selecting the best gems, drying or pressing them inside books, describing them, and artfully arranging them with photographs and drawings.  Having a background in biology, I also understand how dying and dead leaves contribute to the nourishment of the next generation of living things.

What a perfect metaphor for the preservation of our life stories!

What’s in the Name?   “Firsthand” is part of our company name because our ultimate goal is to preserve people’s unique voice, their words of wisdom and experience from their own telling. “Memories” are the individual stories, which no one else can tell.  If you’ve read a little about me, you know that my mother, like so many others, lost her memories to Alzheimer’s disease.  I became all too well acquainted with the fleeting nature and priceless value of memories, realizing that unless we take steps to save them, we may deeply regret waiting too long.

I hope you enjoy the new design as much as we do! (Kit Dwyer)