After a lifetime of military transitions, author Jamare Bates shares how unearthing the legacy of his great-great-grandfather, Eli Biddle of the 54th Massachusetts, provided the clarity to define his own mission: telling stories from within the military experience to help a new generation find their own sense of home.
I grew up learning that home was not a single place, but a shared commitment to family, service and adaptability. My father served in the Army for 20 years, and by the time I reached high school, I had moved seven times. Those moves took me to five different states and to Germany twice. Those experiences shaped how I understood the world long before I had words for it.
Each move meant starting over: new schools, new friends, new routines. It also meant learning quickly how to fit into a team. In a military family, teamwork isn't optional — it's survival. You learn to rely on one another, to respect structure and to contribute in whatever way you can. Service to something greater than yourself isn't an abstract concept; it's part of daily life. It's watching one parent deploy while the other holds the family together. It's understanding that everyone plays a role, even the kids.
Those lessons continued into adulthood. As my life became more settled, my desire to serve didn't fade — it evolved. I found myself drawn to mentoring and leadership roles, particularly in STEM programs for young children. I volunteered with organizations focused on education and community development, always looking for ways to give back. Still, I felt there was more I could do. The question that followed me was simple but persistent: how do I make a meaningful impact?
The answer, in many ways, was already written into my family history. There is a profound pride that comes from unearthing your roots and realizing the values you hold dear were planted generations ago. I have learned that understanding our history is essential to discovering our purpose; it acts as a compass, pointing us toward the impact we are meant to make. My great-great-grandfather served in the 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment during the Civil War. When his service ended, he didn't step away from responsibility — he leaned into it. He returned home and became a pillar of his community, a writer and editor of a newspaper, investing time, skill and care into the people and places that had supported him.
Learning about his journey filled me with an immense sense of pride and belonging. It showed me that my urge to serve wasn't just a byproduct of my military upbringing — it was in my blood. Having this historical anchor gave me the clarity I needed to finally define my own path. His life reflected the same values I had grown up with — service, responsibility and commitment to others.
Becoming an author was my way of carrying that legacy forward. When we connect with our past, we are empowered to write a more intentional future. Writing allows me to share stories rooted in service, transition and resilience — stories that reflect not just military members, but the families and children who grow alongside them. My first story, "Isaiah's Moving Day Adventure," allowed me to give back to my community in a way that feels both personal and purposeful. It's another form of service — one built with words instead of uniforms.
The spirit of service within the military community is powerful, and it doesn't stop with those who wear the uniform. It extends to spouses, children and families who grow up to understand sacrifice, teamwork and responsibility as part of everyday life. Many military kids carry those lessons forward, quietly shaping their futures around the same values they learned while packing boxes, changing schools and starting over again.
I invite you to follow my page at www.biddlestree.com as I continue to explore these themes; together, we can look closer at how uncovering our own unique histories can help us walk more confidently toward our true purpose.
My story is not just mine — it is also a shared story. It belongs to the countless military families who understand that service is not just a career or a moment in time. It is a way of life, passed down, carried forward and reimagined by each new generation.