"As a child growing up between Virginia and North Carolina, I was often told of my Native American ancestry from my mother's side of the family. Interestingly enough, I recently found out that I may also have similar roots on my father's side. For the most part, the concrete evidence of my cultural heritage came from my mother's account, my good fortune to inherit a skin-type which was very tolerate of the sun, and my almond shaped brown eyes - a trait I shared with many of my maternal cousins. Beyond these simple markers, the link to my past has been a bit of a mystery. I recognize that for some of us the limited cultural resources of our heritage present a challenge in our quest to discover our true essence and origin. From this very personal viewpoint, I have evolved into an inspired preservationist who believes our various cultural perspectives and places should all be valued pieces of our collective American story."

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(From PreservationNation Blog, 1/4/12)