On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Great Depression, a simple sewing accident turned into a month-long ordeal for Joy Neal Kidney's grandmother. A broken needle lodged in her hand led to multiple trips to the doctor, surgery, and weeks of recovery at a time when money was scarce, transportation was limited, and even getting medical care was a challenge.

Joy Neal Kidney shares the story of one small family mishap that reveals what everyday life in rural America was really like during the Great Depression. Be sure to check out her book Leora's Dexter Stories for more great family history like this.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Great Depression, a simple sewing accident turned into a month-long ordeal for Joy Neal Kidney's grandmother. A broken needle lodged in her hand led to multiple trips to the doctor, surgery, and weeks of recovery at a time when money was scarce, transportation was limited, and even getting medical care was a challenge. Joy Neal Kidney shares the story of one small family mishap that reveals what everyday life in rural America was really like during the Great Depression. Be sure to check out her book&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjoynealkidney.com%2Fbooks%2Fleoras-dexter-stories-the-scarcity-years-of-the-great-depression%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Ca2a461e3db294c288d1b08dedb850e3f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639189561735209551%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=k%2Fro%2FxsZkOAw9gSv1%2BlsqoPQEnL99PEaJc%2FF8NE9Kdw%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4" data-ogsc="">Leora's Dexter Stories</a>&nbsp;for more great family history like this.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

The Needle That Changed Grandma's Hand Forever

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/221fc681-db66-4e50-a94e-b482016c2a76/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a boy, Bob McClellan walked through Golden Gate National Cemetery on his way into town. Years later, he returned as a father, bringing his own children to place flags beside the graves on Memorial Day and visit the resting place of their grandfather, a Marine who fought at Guadalcanal.

But their walks through the cemetery became about much more than remembering one man. From an 18-year-old Marine killed in Vietnam to Medal of Honor recipients, the Black sailors lost in the Port Chicago disaster, and Japanese Americans who fought for a country that had imprisoned their families, Bob found stories everywhere. Here's Bob himself to share a few of them.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a boy, Bob McClellan walked through Golden Gate National Cemetery on his way into town. Years later, he returned as a father, bringing his own children to place flags beside the graves on Memorial Day and visit the resting place of their grandfather, a Marine who fought at Guadalcanal. But their walks through the cemetery became about much more than remembering one man. From an 18-year-old Marine killed in Vietnam to Medal of Honor recipients, the Black sailors lost in the Port Chicago disaster, and Japanese Americans who fought for a country that had imprisoned their families, Bob found stories everywhere. Here's Bob himself to share a few of them.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

What a Cemetery Taught Me About Being an American

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7bf5c3b1-6213-4ec6-8dc2-b4a60175b748/transcript

Marker 01

Marker 02

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1909, William Boeing watched an airplane fly for the first time and became fascinated by a machine many Americans still regarded as little more than an expensive toy. The wealthy timberman learned to fly, built his own seaplane, and became convinced that aviation was going to change the world. When World War I ended and the young aircraft industry nearly collapsed, Boeing put hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money into keeping his company alive.

This is the story of the man who saw the future in the airplane and built his name into one of the giants of American aviation.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1909, William Boeing watched an airplane fly for the first time and became fascinated by a machine many Americans still regarded as little more than an expensive toy. The wealthy timberman learned to fly, built his own seaplane, and became convinced that aviation was going to change the world. When World War I ended and the young aircraft industry nearly collapsed, Boeing put hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money into keeping his company alive. This is the story of the man who saw the future in the airplane and built his name into one of the giants of American aviation.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

William Boeing: The Timber Millionaire Who Gave America Wings

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ab57c882-b37d-4d51-9406-b4a60175b748/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the Civil War, thousands of Southern men joined a secret society complete with castles, passwords, elaborate oaths, medieval costumes, and dreams of conquest. They called themselves the Knights of the Golden Circle, and beneath all the pageantry was a serious ambition: expand slavery by building a vast new empire across Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Mark Kawar, author of America but Bigger, and David C. Keehn, author of Knights of the Golden Circle: Secret Empire, Southern Secession, Civil War, share the strange story of the organization that ultimately discovered that dreaming of an empire was much easier than building one.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, before the Civil War, thousands of Southern men joined a secret society complete with castles, passwords, elaborate oaths, medieval costumes, and dreams of conquest. They called themselves the Knights of the Golden Circle, and beneath all the pageantry was a serious ambition: expand slavery by building a vast new empire across Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Mark Kawar, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GX34L3Z7%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C409bf7affc354118a29408def95fad64%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639222386525605371%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=LEHMV%2BeK5%2Bf4hEx8B9y6KM0KJtlnsi5ITthLl8NpPnA%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">America but Bigger</a>, and David C. Keehn, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FKnights-Golden-Circle-Conflicting-Dimensions-ebook%2Fdp%2FB00B119JF4%3Fref_%3Dast_author_mpb&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C409bf7affc354118a29408def95fad64%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639222386525638103%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=wKsqq2KwpCy0SZMVua%2BDxXAY7EGVFDKwJ70N8jkO%2F2U%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">Knights of the Golden Circle: Secret Empire, Southern Secession, Civil War</a>, share the strange story of the organization that ultimately discovered that dreaming of an empire was much easier than building one.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Knights of the Golden Circle: America's Would-Be Slave Empire Builders?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ccc02388-f70a-490b-99a1-b4a60175b73f/transcript

The Needle That Changed Grandma's Hand Forever

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