State Representative Wayne Rosenthal (IL) | Representative Wayne A Rosenthal (R) 108th District
State Representative Wayne Rosenthal (IL) | Representative Wayne A Rosenthal (R) 108th District
The Gettysburg Address, one of the most iconic speeches in American history, will be on display for 12 days at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. This is the only place in America where the public can regularly see the speech written in Lincoln's own hand.
On November 19, 1863, a dedication ceremony took place at the Gettysburg Soldiers' National Cemetery. The keynote speaker of the event was Edward Everett, a renowned orator and former U.S. Senator and Massachusetts Governor. However, his two-hour, 13,000-word monologue is often forgotten in history as it paled in comparison to the speech that followed.
President Abraham Lincoln, who had been invited to Gettysburg as an afterthought, delivered a two-minute, 271-word speech that initially received mixed reviews. In his speech, Lincoln reflected on the nation's founding and the challenges it currently faced. He spoke of the importance of dedicating the cemetery but also acknowledged the futility of trying to honor the fallen any more than they had already done themselves. Lincoln expressed his determination to continue their work and ensure the endurance of our unique system of self-government.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here," Lincoln stated. "But it can never forget what they did here."
The initial reaction to Lincoln's speech was silence, followed by scattered applause. There are conflicting accounts as to why the crowd responded in this manner. Some believe they were so moved by Lincoln's words that they were unable to immediately react, while others suggest they were caught off guard by the speech's brevity. Regardless, over the past 160 years, the Gettysburg Address has come to be regarded as one of the greatest Presidential speeches in American history.
Today, as we honor the anniversary of this famous speech, we also reflect on the legacy of Illinois' favorite son, President Abraham Lincoln. The Gettysburg Address serves as a reminder of his profound impact on our nation and his unwavering commitment to creating a better future.
For more information about the Gettysburg Address and to explore online exhibits, visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's website at presidentlincoln.illinois.gov.
(Source: NPR Illinois)
Click this link to access more information: https://reprosenthal.com/2023/11/17/see-the-empowering-gettysburg-address-on-display-in-springfield/
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