• Is real heritage found in the photographs we cherish for years and preserve lovingly for the future?

• Is it found in the messages hidden in the letters and cards from our past?

• Is it found in that special tool, the one in the velvet-lined case, handed down from father to son?

• Or, in the beaded and laced wedding dress handed down from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter?

The truth is that our real heritage is not found in photos, memorabilia, and other such “stuff.” It is not tangible. It is not a substance to be handled.

Rather, real heritage is that intangible quality of a person's life that impacts family and posterity. Real heritage is really not hard to find.

It is found in the heart of the father that trained his children to love justice.

It is found in the mother whose life, greatly afflicted by disease, gave definition to the word “determined.”

Real heritage is the stuff gleaned from the single parent who struggled to raise her family alone in life...long before it became fashionable.

It is found in the tireless love of the surrogate parent who bore the responsibilities of the real parent who chose to play instead of parent.

Our real heritage is found in the creative relative who made something substantial out of the little he was given in life.

Real heritage is even found in the weakness revealed by a loved one's early death by bad choices.

And it is found in the strength of another who made bad choices...yet who learned through them, and then taught others that success after failure is possible.

Our real heritage is found in sacrifice taught by the one who chose hard work for family over personal pleasure.

It is found in the patriotism of the one who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to God, to family, and to country.

Our real heritage, in short, is found in the gifts of personal character and strength and perseverance and sacrifice given to us by those who have gone before.

Why then does Heritage Archives advocate the preservation and archiving of the photos and other memorabilia “stuff” left by our predecessors? Why is the “stuff” that is left behind so important?

Heritage Archives preserves “stuff” because it helps us to remember. The “stuff” is not our heritage. The memory and the personal gifts of love and sacrifice are. “Stuff” simply helps us to remember more clearly and accurately.

And the “stuff” we preserve is not for our memory only. We preserve our heritage today because it helps to tell our family's story tomorrow. Heritage “stuff” passes that story on down so others can tell it to future generations.

The story that will be told then…will be our own story.

Preserve a photo...tell a life's story.