What object from your personal or family history has special meaning, either as a memento of the past or a reflection of your identity?

The question - stemming from a National Public Radio story I recently read - caught my attention. Initially, NPR personnel interviewed eight refugees. Then, the question was posed to the larger NPR audience.

In both instances, responses to the question identify the memories and stories we carry with us. They shape a significant moment in time, a precious piece of our life’s stories.

One woman told the story of her grandfather, who arrived from Bohemia at...