Dear editor,

Over this weekend was researching my Dulaney’s roots for my upcoming book, “Alabama Dulaney.”

Looked up information on Barack Obama. Found his roots on his mother’s side. Didn’t know he was linked to so many people.

He’s related to Harry S. Truman, Catherine Goodnight Durham. She was Obama’s great-great-great-great-grandmother and was first cousin once-removed to Rachael Goodnight, young Harry S. Truman’s great-grandmother.

He’s also a relative to Robert Duvall, the actor, through Obama’s ninth great-grandfather.

His link here in Alabama is to Christopher Clark. Obama’s great-great-great-grandfather Clark fought in the Civil War listed as Columbus Clark. He served 51 days as a private in the 69th Regiment of the enrolled Missouri Militia under Capt. Thacker in the fall of 1864. It was Clark’s mother, Elizabeth Davis, who was related to Jefferson Davis.

Three decades later, Stanley Durham would become a grandfather in Hawaii when his daughter, Stanley Ann Durham, gave birth to Barrack Obama.

So, we can claim Obama as an Alabamian, a son of the South.

Believe every part of this nation, Obama is a part of this nation and also can claim history in Africa. He’s a native son to the world, who will make a difference.

This is what Obama’s ancestry brings to our nation. We, as a nation, need to heal those wounds of the past. Let us face life united. We can overcome anything we face. Let God be the source of our victories. Let’s start healing and forgiving. We must forgive so the future generation will not inherit what we did &8212; a generation of hate, mistrust, mistakes in judgement, unforgiving hearts.

Let’s leave our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren a better nation. Let’s live up to “in God we trust,” “God bless America” and “God Bless Alabama.”

Millie Lee Dulaney