While sitting in the University Center, UW Whitewater's student union, it was difficult for me not to hear the snippet of conversation.
"My brother's back to the front lines. If, God forbid, something happens to him, that could be the end of the family name."
She apparently had no other brothers or male cousins.
"So, if something happens to [the brother], when I get married, whoever I marry would have to agree that we'd take my last name, not his. He might not want to do that, but he'd have to. It's that important to me to do that. For me to keep the name going for my parents."
That's a really nice thought. My mother was grew up an only child. She had only two cousins on her father's side of the family. The only male was killed during World War II. The Fliegner name -- at least on their branch of the tree -- died on a battlefield in France. My mother named her oldest son Robert after her older brother who had died as a child, before she was born. Her father was thrilled. That's the best she could do since, back in 1956, even the idea of a married couple taking a hyphenated name, let alone the bride's family name, was considered ridiculous. But times have changes.
I hope no harm comes to the overheard girl's one and only brother. If he doesn't make it back, I hope she finds a guy to marry who will be willing to set aside his family name to try to keep hers around for another generation.
