I Pledge Allegiance

Some years ago, a friend of ours lost her husband from dementia. He had spent years in a Veterans Administration nursing home. He had served in the military and was a feather-weight championship boxer. He was part of a diminishing group who fought hard, and even sacrificed, for our hard-earned freedoms.

I attended his memorial service, and it was one of the most touching I can recall. His grandchildren were all young adults who spoke eloquently about their relationship with their grandfather.

Particularly impressive was one of the grandkids who had moved back with his siblings into his grandparents’ home after the parents divorced. Now a young adult, he shared how his grandfather would have the young grandkids go out each morning for the raising of the American flag. They stood at attention as the flag moved up the pole, saluted and recited the pledge of allegiance. The experience had a lasting impression on the grandkids.

I respect people’s right to free speech protected under the U.S. Constitution. But every time I see our flag being disparaged, I recall this incident and the impact it had on my friend’s grandkids. It may feel old-fashioned or meaningless, especially when some flag protests feel legitimate.

Keep reminding yourself: Patriotism builds character, no matter how corny it may feel at times.

Robert Parlante

October 2017

Trading Lederhosen for a Kilt

Growing up, my parents always told me I was a “FBI” or full-blooded Italian. I’m a first-generation Italian-American on my father’s side and a second generation on my mother’s side. Both parents came from the same region in northern Italy, so both considered it was obvious I was 100% Italian heritage.

A recent television ad by ancestry.com got me thinking maybe there’s more to my genealogy story. Many readers have likely seen the ad where a male folk-dancer is wearing lederhosen Bavarian shorts, believing he was of German descent. After completing his DNA testing, he discovers he is predominantly Scottish and is now wearing a kilt, performing highland dances.

This got me thinking: What if I did my DNA testing and my genealogy turns out to be something drastically different? Will I have to trade my Italian lasagna for Greek spanakopita or Irish shepherd’s pie or French boeuf bourguignon?

For my birthday a few weeks ago, my family gave be a DNA testing kit. As much as I wanted to test, I started getting cold feet. What if I don’t like the results?

But ignoring the testing does not result in “better” DNA! I plunged ahead, spit into the vial (gross!) and sent it on its merry way.

The results are in. It turns out I am 80% Italian/Greek with the remaining 20% from different parts of west Europe. Was I disappointed? Not at all. While the results are interesting I concluded I was less interested in where I came from and what those before me went through. I am more interested in where I am going in the future because I can make choices, not so much about my DNA, but choices that leave something positive after I am gone.

For the record, my ethnicity region where my family roots are most present is predominately Umbria, Italy … land of Francis of Assisi and Perugia candies. That may be why I like dogs and Italian chocolate!

Robert Parlante
October 2017