OUR FAMILY IS DEI

A FAMILY GETHERING-THANKSGIVING

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It Began with Two of Us

. I trace my family back to the Revolution with two members fighting--John Parker (There were two John Parkers--one a Captain who fought at Lexington, born in 1739, but a John Parker born some years later who also fought at Lexington but was not an officer. He was my ancestor.

The female, Deborah Sampson, for whom I was named (although I haven't found out the exact relationship yet), was the only female to receive a pension in that war.

In the Civil War, Cousin Mabel's father served in the Massachusetts home guard, but as far as I know did not participate in any action. Another relative is mentioned as missing an arm, so I assume he lost it in that war, and I have two letters from one of Uncle Charley's cousins who was fighting.

My great-uncle George served in the Army in the Spanish-American War and was stationed in Cuba in 1907 when several family members gathered there. I believe he made the rank of General for WWI. Uncle Dick served in WWII, Our Kevin and Elizabeth in the first Gulf War and Kevin in the second.

Dad's Roots

He goes back, on his mothers' side, for generations of Mitchells. His father's German heritage had reached the third or fourth generation by the time Dad came along--and he served in the Navy during the peace between Korea and Vietnam. His brother Vic resigned from the Air Force but was out, with his apple orchard, before Vietnam.

We Expand Our Ethnicities

First, Elizabeth joined the Air Force, was stationed in Turkey, and married Can (John) Dikici. Then my nephew Michael Detering found his wife in Brazil and brought her here. Finally my one of my brother's daughters married a Greek, giving us relatives from Turkey (Asia), Greece (Europe) and Brazil (South America.) Both of Can's daughters married men from Hispanic families. Kevin's daughter Katrina had a brief fling with a Black man and there is at least one very dark man in Johnny's family--whether relative or friend, I don't know--with that family, anyone who walks in the door belongs to family. Linnie's son Ron had red hair which has darkened, but he grew up as a definite redhead. So we have a full range of skin and hair colors.

All Sorts of Vocations

Vocations range from fast-food and janitorial to Ph.D. (My father and Malcolm's wife, Robin). Floyd earned his M.S. in geography and his mother earned her M.A. the same day I received my B.A. from Central in Ellensburg. Dad had his from Oregon State. Kevin served our country well for over 20 years in the Army, making us very proud of his mechanical ability when he transferred from army equipment to train engines, maintaining both antique and modern trains on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. We think he's equivalent to a Ph.D. in mechanics.

Proudly:

• Diverse.

• Equitable--We treat each other fairly.

• Inclusive. Everyone is FAMILY.

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