Recently chapter member Debbie Chance and her husband Gary returned home from visiting their daughter Shannon Koonce and family in Saudi. Being gone for three weeks, they also visited…Italy, France and the Czech Republic.
While in Rome, Italy, as they strolled down a street lined with small square pavers, they saw a store sign that read…”TEXANO STORE ABBIGLIAMENTO WESTERN STORE”, of course a family from Texas had to go in. Much to their delight, they heard Willie Nelson music playing and as they looked up, Ms. Chance said “well, look at that”…there were small Confederate flags strung all across the entire ceiling.
The owner of the store was very eager to chat with Ms. Chance, especially when she learned that she was a member of the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. The owner told the Chance family, that in high school, they study the War Between the States in their World History class. A visit to that “STORE” in Rome, Italy, was definitely a highlight of the trip.
Debbie Chance is a 10 year member of the Stubbs chapter and proudly has proved 25 of her ancestors as soldiers in the Confederacy. After leaving Italy, they made the 4 hour drive to the small village of Martaize, France. This village is the homeland of Ms. Chance’s family beginnings. The patriarch was Antoine Bourg and he dates back to 1609 in Martaize. This small village is typical of most French villages, its quiet, sun washed, stone architecture and lots of vegetation. The population of the village in 2022 was 360. The family names in the village are…Broussard, LeBlanc and Sonnier. As the families left France, they eventually made their way to the Southwest Louisiana area.
The objectives of the UDC are: Historical, Educational, Benevolent, Memorial and Patriotic.
If you find that you are interested in your family history and think you have a Confederate
ancestor, email the chapter registrar at schelletaylor@gmail.com
Article & picture provided by Eva Rains, Publicity Chairman of the Stubbs Chapter
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