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A WWI veteran, postman, and moonshiner from Kentucky, embodied values like resilience, humility, and a strong sense of place.

Oral histories, especially in regions like Appalachia, preserve crucial stories and memories often overlooked in official records.

It's important to remember individuals like "Ol' Mort" who shaped rural communities through their quiet consistency and dedication.

The focus should be on the everyday lives and contributions of ordinary people rather than reducing rural America to political generalizations.

Digging into the life of my great-great-grandfather — a war hero, postman and moonshiner from Kentucky — helped me understand the values we’re so quick to forget and the stories we’re at risk of losing.

I grew up hearing stories about my gre

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