On an episode of NCIS the medical examiner, Dr. “Ducky” Mallard-played by Dave McCallum, was supposed to have said “A person dies twice. Once when the body dies and again when the stories stop being repeated.” I never thought about it before but it is true. We continue to tell stories about those who have died, therefore continuing to give them life. I have my Mother’s picture album with lots of pictures of people who may or may not be my relatives who died about a century ago. Some have names I don’t know and others with no names. No stories are being told about them so they are truly dead.

            How many of our ancestors and others are truly dead. George Washington was supposed to have cut down a cherry tree or threw a coin across a river. Whether or not it is true doesn’t matter because those stories are mixed in with lots of other stories true or not. Many stories about some of our heroes of the past are well beyond believably, but they keep them alive.

            We continue to talk about our parents long after they are dead and buried, so we are able to keep them alive. We may still tell a story or two about our grandparents who died decades ago. As the last of my parent’s four children, the stories of my maternal grandfather lives only with me.

            Unfortunately the lives of some people continue when we wish they would die permanently. Some of their stories are meant to show what not to do or how not to behave. Will Adolf Hitler and his mob ever die? Will Mao, Stalin and Kim who killed millions of their people ever be forgotten?