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Ancestry.com Supports the NSSAR Operation Ancestor Search

Posted Sat, 2012-07-21 11:00 by webmaster
Last updated: Sat, 2012-07-21 11:00

 

Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online family history resource, and Fold3, the web's premier collection of original military records, presented a grant of $180,000 to the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for the development and support of Operation Ancestor Search, a genealogy training program provided to US wounded warriors, their families and care givers.   Brian Hansen, general manager of Fold3, presented the check on behalf of Fold3 and Ancestry.com during the 122nd Congress of The Sons of the American Revolution in Phoenix, Arizona.
 
Conducted at military hospitals around the country, Operation Ancestor Search is free to U.S. wounded warriors, their families and care givers and it is operated by volunteers from local chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution.  Operation Ancestor Search provides injured service members with the knowledge and tools that enable them to conduct family history research as they recover from their injuries.  A key aspect of the program is the ability to offer genealogy resources to the injured service members, and this grant will provide access to Ancestry.com’s online databases for the participants’ use as well as funding for a national program administrator.
 
The program is a tremendous success at military healthcare facilities including the Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Centers. Captain Samuel Hoffman, U.S. Army, has participated in the program at Walter Reed since early 2011. Through the assistance of Operation Ancestor Search volunteers, Captain Hoffman discovered his ancestors served on both sides of the Civil War and also in the Revolutionary War.
 
“The information I have uncovered about my family through Operation Ancestor Search has helped me learn a tremendous amount about my ancestors and exceeded my expectations,” said Captain Hoffman. “I have a new found respect and understanding for family heritage and the impact that family history can have on a person’s sense of self-worth and desire for personal growth.”  
 
More information regarding this program will be forthcoming as plans are finalized.