Haymarket Club Preserves Family Legacy

A Journey into Family History

Carlos Collat of Haymarket had always known that his parents loved to dance, but it wasn’t until he discovered newspaper clippings listing their names as finalists in the Harvest Moon Ball at Madison Square Garden in 1935 that he realized how much more there was to their story. Initially, he doubted he would be able to gather much information about his family, especially since they were from South America. However, with the help of a friend, Kevin "Flash" Garcia, a genealogy specialist, he was able to triple the amount of information he had on them—something he described as “outstanding.”

Garcia is a diversity and genealogy professional who has spent decades working in the military and federal government. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, working in national intelligence and cryptology. After moving to Haymarket 17 years ago, he worked as a certified diversity professional for government projects. As his interest in family genealogy grew, he launched DiversityInMe last year, a business aimed at helping others uncover their past, biological makeup, and genetic heritage.

Understanding Our Roots

Garcia believes that understanding our lineage is essential. “We all should know what our lineage is, how we got here, and where we came from,” he said. “How did your family start? Why am I right here? Why are you right-handed?” For Garcia, genealogy is more than just names, dates, and places—it’s about understanding how our ancestors lived and why we are where we are today.

Genealogy research not only tells us where our family has lived in the past but also gives insight into what life was like for them, why they chose to stay or leave, and what we can learn from those experiences. This knowledge shapes who we are as individuals and as a community.

Building a Community of Researchers

Garcia has been involved in genealogy clubs for years and recently started his own group that meets at the Haymarket Gainesville Library. “I figured what an awesome thing to do and get those interested, beginner to advanced,” he said. The club aims to assist members in researching their family histories and to facilitate discussions on the latest developments in the field of genealogy.

Many of the club’s 20 members, such as Izabelle Burgess of Haymarket, share Garcia's passion for genealogy. “Genealogy is a way of keeping memories and stories alive,” she said. “It connects the past with the present and leaves a legacy for future generations.”

Genealogy Beyond Individuals

Finding family genealogy isn’t just important for individuals; it also benefits institutions. Michael Blythe of Haymarket is the registrar of the Colonel William Grayson Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, which serves Prince William County. Blythe assists members with their applications and relies heavily on genealogy research.

“I've been doing genealogy for a number of years,” Blythe said, “but the club has taught me new ways to improve my research, like using AI tools to transcribe old documents.” Garcia also works on a project for the American Legion Post 1799, where he researches information on deceased veterans.

For example, Garcia discovered that Michael Hirmer’s father was a cryptologist, even though all six of his sons believed he was a radio operator. “He couldn’t talk about it,” said Hirmer, who lives in Nokesville. “He couldn’t say he was a cryptologist.” Garcia wasn’t surprised. “Every family has secrets. Every single one.”

The Role of Genetics in Genealogy

DNA sites have revolutionized genealogical studies. Tests offered by sites like ancestry.com can report on the geographic origin of ancestors and connect them to other living relatives. “Each parent passes down half of their DNA, but which half? That's the random part,” Garcia said. “It's a genetic shuffle.”

Siblings can end up with very different mixes. One might carry more of grandma's Italian roots, while another might lean heavily toward grandpa's Irish heritage—without even knowing it—until a DNA test says, “surprise!” This randomness is what makes DNA testing so fascinating to Garcia. It's not just about where one's ancestors came from, but how those pieces got passed down, mixed up, and uniquely rearranged.

Knowing the complexities of DNA, Garcia encourages people and organizations to rethink their definition of diversity. “We are all diverse. We all have different views and backgrounds,” he said. “Diversity means more than having different races. Everybody is diverse.”