President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address on a bright November day 161 years ago.
On Nov. 19, a crowd gathered at the Gettysburg National Cemetery to mark the anniversary of Lincoln’s brief speech, in which he honored those killed in the Civil War battle a few months before.
Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer at the end of the reenactment read Lincoln’s remarks that rededicated the union to freedom and equality for all citizens.
Before speaking the Civil War president’s words, Holzer expressed dismay that an authoritarian, disruptive president-elect now leads the party Lincoln guided to victory, ending slavery.
In a stirring article that brought back the glories of classic newspaper writing, The New York Times’ Dan Barry captured the solemn majesty of the 161st anniversary reenactment.
Asserting their faith in the promise of America, a group of immigrants from different backgrounds joined a ceremony to become American citizens, Barry reported.
A month before Lincoln’s immortal address at the battlefield, the careworn president issued his first proclamation declaring a national holiday of Thanksgiving.
Once again, we gather together this week to express thanks for our blessings and rededicate ourselves to Lincoln’s more perfect union.
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