Athens native Richard Martin comes from a long line of Martins with the Martin surname coincidentally shared by both his mother and father. After hearing stories all his life, he began researching his family history. Combing the Limestone County Archives and calling on relatives, his search extended all he way to California to find ancestors as far back as the Revolutionary War. The end result is a 3-volume series of books full of personal narratives, news stories, genealogy, anecdotes and photographs within their historical context. Richard talks about his books highlighting the nostalgia of a bygone era where all the neighbors knew your name and you knew them by the cars they drove. He remembers playing at the site of an old Civil War fort, which is now the location of the Athens-Limestone Public Library. With this year marking the 250th anniversary of America, these books portray a look at our nation's history through the eyes of the Limestone County Martins.

Links:
https://www.alcpl.org/

If you would like to share a story, please call the library at 256-232-1233 or email apitt-leif@alcpl.org for more information.
Music from Pixabay

Frank ‘Max’ Grose was 21 years old in 1967 when he was sent to Vietnam to serve in the 147th assault support helicopter company known as the Hillclimbers. He piloted his Chinook helicopter in and out of dangerous missions to supply troops fighting on the ground. In 1973, as the last U.S. troops pulled out and the country fell under Communist regime, many Vietnamese families made the difficult decision to leave their country in search of a better future. Enter 12-year-old Thanh Boyer: a Vietnam boat refugee who braved the treacherous waters of the South China Sea, both physically and mentally, to finally land in her newly adopted home in America. In Athens, Alabama.
Together, for the first time, Frank Grose and Thanh Boyer share their Vietnam experiences and the work they have done since to help veterans who returned home bearing the scars of war.

Links:
https://www.alcpl.org/

If you would like to share a story, please call the library at 256-232-1233 or email apitt-leif@alcpl.org for more information.
Music from Pixabay

July 18, 1980, Thanh Boyer arrived in Athens, Alabama as a Vietnamese Boat refugee. She was 12 years old. This is her story - a journey of courage, pathos, humor, and single-minded determination to bring the rest of her family to America.

Links:
https://www.alcpl.org/

If you would like to share a story, please call the library at 256-232-1233 or email apitt-leif@alcpl.org for more information.
Music from Pixabay