Straight from The Horse’s Mouth

Last week-end my family had a reunion. We met cousins for the first time, saw aunts and uncles who are well seasoned now, and enjoyed little ones who represent our future. My mother's side of the family is originally Clan Craig from Lanarkshire, Scotland. Our history is interesting, and a few characters are colorful. Some of us are proud of the "rebels" in our lineage, and some fear there may be more skeletons in our closet. There was one big surprise, but I'll save that for the end of this column.

My Uncle Donald is the eldest living Craig and is our 'Clan Chieftain'. Being a lifelong military man (retired Naval Captain) he gave us a brief history of our family's service. In U.S. history we've served in the American Revolution, The War of 1812, The Confederate Army, and my grandfather was a translator in WWI. WWII had family in The Battle Of The Bulge, flying P-38's in England and France, and fighting and dying in The South Pacific. I have an uncle who trained German Shepherds in Korea. Our 'Chief' was in the medical service corp (attached to the Marines) in Da-Nang Vietnam.

Not in the Craig line, but in attendance was a 90 year old gentleman who's ship was bombed in Pearl Harbor. He is accredited with having saved 9 ship mates. My father is one of three Marines in his platoon who survived the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. Recently my nephew, another marine, worked at the Pentagon. Glenn's father was in the Canadian Army Corp of Engineers and served as a motorcycle riding dispatch and bridge builder in Holland during WWII.

Six great grandfathers ago there was a man named William Craig. His daughter married a man with the Surname Nelson. Eventually, down the line we find William Hugh Nelson, aka the legend, Willie Nelson. He's known for a lot of things, for one his annual 4th of July Concert. Happy Independence Day y'all.