President Lincoln
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863:
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Bear, Thanks for the post of the Gettysburg Address. I took my grandson Carter to Gettysburg and to see the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvainia. We often read the Gettysburg Address, the Duty, Honor, Country Speech and The Charge of the Light Brigade etc to fill in the History not being covered in school. Thanks again. Al, Rifles
Al, in 1998 on our way to the Wall in D.C. in 1998 for Veterans Day, we spent a couple of days at Gettysburg to see the battlefield first-hand. It was a very moving experience, so much so I wrote about it at: My Personal Journey to the Wall – Veterans Day 1998.
No warrior can go to Gettysburg and not be moved by the experience. I encourage all to do so!
Bear, You had a very unique experience by going to Gettysburg on the way to the Wall. I have been to Gettysburg twice and the Wall once but at different times. I also have been to Arlington and Mt. Vernon and Fredricksburg Battlefield and I read about the battles of the Civil War as a kid. I’m glad we both got to see these special places. Al
Al, indeed it was a memorable trip to visit Gettysburgh and the Wall. I’ve been to the Wall several times and each experience is unique and very special.