Calling down through the years

I found out that my dad has a folder on the computer of stories about our ancestors. I opened it up and started looking through. It was very inspiring to read about their dedication and endurance. One file in particular stands out in my memory. It was the autobiography of my 5th (6th?) great grandfather: Zerah Pulsifer. He speaks of his grandfather fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill as they were retreating:

"While they were going out, my grandfather saw one of our men wounded and crawling away on his hands and knees. In the meantime a British soldier ran him through with a bayonet. Being filled with indignation at such rank breach of the laws of all civilized nations he immediately stopped, and amid scenes of death and carnage, loaded his gun and shot that man down before he left the ground and then obtained a safe retreat. I speak of this to let my posterity know that our ancestors were clothed with that steady unshaken determination in time of the most imminent dangers that are incident to human life."

He's talking to me. I am his posterity. Zerah wrote those exact words with the hope that the generations to follow would read them and I have. The language is so moving that reading this passage really cuts to my heart. I thank my predecessors for being so courageous. For standing in honor. For keeping a written record that I can read and draw strength from. I come from a heritage of being clothed in steady, unshaken determination. I'm going to remember that as I'm walking through the villages of Honduras.