FREE
Locations (Free)
Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, Friday, July 10, 2026, 1PM – 3PM
Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA, Sunday, July 12, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
Morgan Hill Library, 660 W Main Ave, Morgan Hill, CA, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 4PM – 6PM
Cupertino Library, 10800 Torre Ave, Cupertino, CA, Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11AM – 1PM
Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA, Monday, July 27, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA. Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
What you will learn
• Access military records from major archives and databases
• Interpret DD-214s, draft cards, and service records
• Use census and muster rolls to trace service
• Create storytelling from veteran oral histories and personal accounts
* Create and share a meaningful memorial page
Session Abstract:
Unlock Your Ancestors’ Military Records: Critical documents, resources, and techniques to create military service stories. Discover the hidden stories of veterans in your family. This seminar shows how U.S. military records can enrich genealogy research by revealing an ancestor’s life, service, and character. Learn step-by-step methods to access records from the National Archives, FamilySearch, fold3, and online resources. Explore how to interpret DD-214 forms, locate draft registrations, use census and muster records to trace service and deployments. Hear veteran oral histories that bring records to life with personal context. Participants will learn to create a lasting memorial page honoring service.
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.
Patron Feedback
“Lots of great info. I have a World War II Navy Seabee Dad and want to honor his service legacy. Thank you!!!”
“Superb organization, lots of information and resources, very touching stories!”
“I came in knowing some, I left knowing a lot more. Presented in an easily digestible matter.”
” I enjoyed all of it. Useful and entertaining!!
“This is a very thorough and interesting presentation. I have not used Fold3 or Cindi’s List as research resources. Most of my research has been done from my parents military records, but there is more I would like to learn.”
“Many new avenues to explore to find your ancestors and to write a family history.”
“I learned a lot! Very impressive.”
“Enjoyed the live case study videos to show what can be done for family stories. Nice to tell life stories of vets using multimedia.”
“Your work is engaging because it includes historical information into an experience for me. I can feel the emotions of the characters. Well organized, it has a good flow to it.”
“Very detailed account of resources available for veteran records.”
“I like how personalized the presentation is.”
“Very comprehensive view of resources available to research and document military service of a family member or friend. Good information.”
“Good presentation of useful and helpful information that jumpstart research on military history.”
“Ron showed a lot of good resources to use as well as showing examples of software and websites to go for information to gather records of the service member.’
“Really good content. Great military research story creation examples.”