Shadows to Sunshine, Our Salem Lineage15OCT2025© Diane Sleger.

This Salem Lineage pertains to the descendants of those accused in the Salem witch trials of 1692. This encompasses the witches, the accusers, and the court magistrates. The Salem Witchcraft Trials were a distressing sequence of events in which those who were innocent and defenseless were wrongfully blamed, endured torment, were incarcerated, and even faced execution. Alongside individuals who were wrongly or fairly prosecuted as witches. I found an extended Salem line, similar to my DAR Patriots, through my paternal grandmother's maiden surname, Leffingwell. References: NSDAR Library, Washington, D.C.

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Sleger Line, 07MAY2024© Diane Sleger.

This is a genealogical research review on the surname Sleger (Schlegel), deriving from the Czech Republic.

Colonel Joseph J. Sleger reflected on his U.S. Marine Corps military career in Vietnam and Korea.

"In our work and effort to enjoy the achievements of a free society, and in making our freedom more secure, we have learned that if freedom is to endure, it must be shared."

Sergeant Paul H. Sleger served in World War Il in the 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, A Company, 63rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. With detail and passion, he discussed his courageous combat experiences and the horrors of war, including the loss of his troops and the rigors of combat. Paul bravely fought against the Nazis, who had a deep animosity towards. “It’s difficult to imagine the animosity one feels toward the enemy and his countrymen, especially when one of your close buddies is killed or wounded. Does this animosity subside once the enemy surrenders and /or peace is declared?" It's a tale of courage, fortitude, and...a bit of luck. References: NSDAR Library, Washington, D.C.

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Weir Line, 20FEB2024 © Diane Sleger. This is a genealogical research review of the maternal Weir Line, exploring ancestors' roles in World War I and the impacts of war. It mentions the importance of acknowledging veterans who suffer from PTSD and the impact on their families. It touches on the resilience of Jean, a creative artist who still pursued her dreams despite obstacles. Additionally, it shows the power of love and writing heartfelt letters. References: NSDAR Library, Washington, D.C., and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Chicago, IL

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Roblin Line, 01FEB2024 © Diane Sleger. This focuses on the United Empire Loyalists lineage. Philip John Roblin, fifth paternal great-grandfather, was a Loyalist pioneer who settled in the Bay of Quinte and Hay Bay. The lineage also traces back to John Van Tassel, fifth great-grandfather, a prominent Revolutionary War Patriot. References: NSDAR Library, Washington, DC,  Loyalist Trails: UELAC Newsletter, and Pritzker Military Museum Library, Chicago, IL

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Park Stewart Line, 08APR2022 © Diane Sleger. The genealogical research review covers the lineage from the paternal surname Park to Hutchinson to McBeath to Stewart in the UK. Her 5th paternal grandfather was a Loyalist Scottish Officer in the British Army. Her father, an Atomic Age veteran of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, experienced the effects of radiation from the Trinity Test during the Manhattan Project. References: NSDAR Library, Washington DC, and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Chicago, IL

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Quade Mester Line, 03 MAY 2020 © Diane Sleger. The genealogical research focuses on the German historical background of the husband, Paul, tracing his maternal Prussian ancestry through the Quade and Mester lines. His ancestors' lives spanned from emigration to living during the Great Depression and World War II in the Pacific. It also covers the homes, their memories, and shares Dori's watercolor paintings. References: ILDAR, NSDAR Library, Washington, D.C.

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Maas Line, 01FEB2020 © Diane Sleger. The text describes the author's maternal Pomerania Maas line, which inspired their cultural and holiday traditions. Many individuals from this lineage left their families and homeland to seek a new dream and hope in a new land, traveling over rough seas. References: NSDAR Library, Washington, DC,  and Newberry Library, Chicago, IL

Shadows to Sunshine, Our Leffingwell Line, 24OCT2018 © Diane A Sleger. The text describes the ancestral lineage descending from Lieutenant Thomas Leffingwell, detailing the sacrifices of soldiers in King Philip’s War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I and II, and the Vietnam War. References: ILDAR, NSDAR Library,Washington, DC, the Leffingwell Museum, Norwich, CT., the Connecticut Historical Society, CT, and Yale University Library, New Haven, CT

WWI veteran William F. Weir served as an Ambulance Driver/Mechanic with the U.S. Army Ambulance Service, Special Services Unit 639, American Field Service, American Expeditionary Forces, First Division, WWI. Weir's service included Cantigny, Soissons, and Meuse Argonne, "showed bravery in extracting wounded soldiers". References: ILDAR, NSDAR Library, Washington, DC, WWI Museum in Washington, DC, the Pritzker Military Museum Library, Chicago, IL, WWI Library, St. Louis, and the First Division Museum, Wheaton, IL.