I Am Dutch

Considering how Danish Vikings for three – four centuries and already thousand years ago looted, pillaged and raped all over Europe I find it disrespectful and impertinent to only remember us for “Borgen” and “The Killing”!
By the way; in Danish language a “killing” is a kitten.

lol......no country in Europa is without bad parts in its history. We have the slave trade and other wrong things.......and dont forget: many of these vikings started a life here and are our ancestors...:)

@JanBos2: That is what I mean; we contributed so much to civilise Europe and then all you remember about us is a couple of TV series.

lol. Well my friend, you contributed much! pity your old language didnt keep used, but your great ships and great jewels and the cities founded by vikings are still a thing to admire......

Our old language has certainly not gone out of use; I - for instance - use it so often and much that it sometimes is too much for my dear husband!
And I do not think that you have any idea how many of the words in the English language that originally are Danish.

well, sorry, i meant the 'old-gutnisch' with runen? you know what i mean?

You apology is gracefully accepted and I know what you mean.

@JanBos2: My mother's family came from Holland. All 7 of the 8 siblings got to go there several years back except for my mom who was doing missionary work in Brazil.
Sadly, I know nothing of my heritage except that my aunt (the youngest) can sing "Silent Night" in Dutch!
I have always wanted to visit Holland and Germany (where my dad's people came from), especially since I know nothing of either side.
My mom's family name was Aardsma and her mom's family were Verbeke (sorry, I don't know the spelling).

Verbeek is a usual name here; do you know a city they loved or not?

@JanBos2: No. I was never told anything about my ancestry for either side, just family stories. I THINK they were from Holland since my mom's family all went there for a family vacation one year. There were 8 kids in the family. Is the name Aardsma popular there, as well? That was my maternal grandfather's last name. I ache for not knowing him. He and his wife both died the same year I was born only three months from each other. The family all believe the only thing that killed my grandfather was a broken heart.💔😂
They were VERY much in love and raised their 8 kids on a barber's salary. He was always telling them, "See what you can do for your mother." They all grew up in Indinhurst, LI in a two bedroom house. He ruled it with his heart and only used an iron hand when it deemed necessary.

knowing these persons?

I think they died in 1958 and married in 1918, that's what I found, right?

@JanBos2: OMG!!!! That's my mom's side of the family! Both her parents died in 1958 and I was born in between their deaths. He was SOOOO devoted to his wife. He was a mere humble barber. He raised his kids to love their mother as he did. My mom (the tallest one standing on the right) would regale me with love stories about them. The best was when he told his kids, "See what you can do for your mother."
On all-too-rare occasions he'd come home with some chocolates saying, "sweet for the sweet."
I haven't been in contact with any of them in a few years. About half of the kids are gone now, including my mother.
Only two (the youngest two) are still living normal lives. My mom and two of her three sisters have or died from Alzheimer's. My mom died in 2011 after battling it for 12 years.
The oldest boy (the tall one in the middle of the back row with glasses, died of cancer in the early 1960's.
The one lady on the far left (standing) is the oldest girl and will soon pass, if she hasn't already, from Alz. My mom was the first.
Thank-you so much for posting this photo. All the siblings have a copy of it. I don't know where my mom's copy went. My ONE regret in life is that I never met my grandparents to witness the love these two shared with each other. I also am saddened that I never knew my eldest uncle. He was a preacher and started a church in Masepequa, Long Island, NY which is still going strong today.
The youngest boy bought their homestead on North 4th street in Lindenhurst. The house was barely big enough for his family of three kids, much less the family of TEN!
My mom was not able to attend her oldest brother's wedding because she was in labor with me! If fact, I was born on their wedding day!
Their names are (not sure of the order): Walter, Mary, Clara, Jake, Dorothy (my mom), Paul, Phil and Ruth. I know the first and last two. For sure, I know Walter, Jake and Dorothy are dead, for sure. Mary and Clara may be by now. I will call my Aunt Ruth to get an update on the family.
Thanks again for send it to me. I love it. It is the ONLY picture that I (now) have of the family. Jack Kircher

BTW, four of the kids had boys named for their dad. Jake had a boy named Allen, my mom and two of her sisters gave the boys Allen as a middle name. It was a great way to honor such a great man!

I ll send you a link, I am sure you ll be very interested, I found this: the first Aardsma in USA was naturalized in 1893

Knew that pic also?