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On a beautiful July day in 1999 the following welcoming remarks began the ceremony dedicating the above monument in the Haines Falls Cemetery, honoring our ancestors:
Welcome!
On behalf of Haines Family members past, present and future, welcome to the dedication of a monument honoring our ancestors. These ancestors are the same people that welcomed trappers and hunters to the mountaintop in the late 1700s when it was a wilderness. These are the same people who welcomed the tanners coming to these forests in the early 1800s. A little later, these same people spent over a century welcoming tourists and vacationers to these beautiful mountains.
Now it is our turn to welcome a group of people to our ancestral homeland. As others came to visit and many times stay in this area, they became part of the community and participated in the lives and activities of our ancestors.
We will now ask you to join with us through the course of this happy occasion and participate in the celebration. Listen to the words that will be spoken here today and weigh them carefully. Sing with us when the programme calls for singing—more happy voices will lift everyone’s spirits. Take time to admire the beautiful monument that has been erected. Many people worked very hard to bring it into existence.
Before you leave to join us at our picnic at the South Lake Pavilion, take a few minutes to speak to those around you. Ask the older folks what they remember about their families. Ask the younger folks what they hope for their families. Above all, tell everyone how much you love your family.
It will be a long time before a day like this comes again. Make the most of it.
Haines Family Association
Haines Falls, New York
July 10, 1999
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