Attending the reunion we have an opportunity to reconnect to our roots. You can surround yourself with people who care about you based on the role you play in the family - brother, uncle, cousin or nephew - nothing else. Sharing space with those who have a common background, heritage, and history, whose warmth and genuine affection awaken the deepest heartfelt sentiments is one of the most rewarding human experiences.
During this time it’s easy to understand why family reunions are so important. This is the time to renew old bonds, rekindle pride in your history, your traditions, and yourself. When life's circumstances are sometimes overwhelming, reunions are a time to remember that we do have an anchor - those special people with whom we are connected for life. In this great institution we call family there are those who will help us endure adversity, those who give comfort, share our victories, and pick us up when we fall.
For family members who are high achievers, reunions are often an important leveling ground that transcends social and economic status. Nothing helps to restore perspective and do away with any pretension that might rear its ugly head, than being surrounded by people who "knew you when." Even some who changed your diapers and wiped your runny nose.
For those who aren't doing so well, reunions provide a lifeline of hope, strength and even potential opportunity through networking with other family members. For the alienated, reunions help to establish ties broken by time, distance and life’s busy agenda.
For senior family members, they are occasions to pass on the wisdom of years to the young. And for our young people, they are a time to demonstrate new thinking, new energy and even the latest dance craze.
There are those who contend that one of the country's greatest problems is the continuing decline in family values and sense of family unity. There are many things we need to do as a nation and as a community to reverse this trend. Clearly one of them is to continue and strengthen the tradition of family reunions which has taken hold, particularly over the last couple of decades. These gatherings can provide significant personal enrichment and perspective.