Big excitement in Springfield today:
200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.
Visit and speech by President Obama.
Landing of Air Force One at Capitol Airport.
Thanks to Judi Dunkel Headrick for the heads-up.
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News from/for the Class of 1958
Springfield High School
Springfield, Illinois, USA
7 comments:
Had the wonderful experience of spending the day yesterday, Lincoln's Birthday, attending so many venues to participate in the celebration, starting with joining in the recitation of The Gettysburg Address at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Presidential Museum.
From that event we had so many memorable experiences, including watching the new movie at the Lincoln Visitors' Center. My daughter, Amy, was the Unit Production Manager of the project here in Springfield two summers ago and my sister from Atlanta, GA came to Springfield to be a member of the cast.
The movie at The Visitor's Center was last changed in 1976 and was determined to be "outdated" and so the new movie was commissioned by the National Park Service and was made here in Springfield by a film company from LA. We attended lectures by Lincoln Scholars that were so interesting and informative.
Last night we went to the Crowne Plaza Hotel to attend the Abraham Lincoln Association's Abraham Lincoln Birthday Celebration Dinner (we were actually in the "overflow" room) where President Obama was the guest speaker. What a thrill!
The air of excitement as everyone gathered was really electric. We all said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the Star Spangled Banner along with the whole crowd and the President, and that was really a neat experience. The President's speech was a really good one, and all in all, it was a really great evening.
It was indeed a wonderful affair.
My husband is the president of the Abraham Lincoln Association and had the honor of sitting next to the President at the banquet and talking with him before the events began. The ALA published a book showing every statue of Lincoln in Illinois with comments on each statue. The President signed 3 books and we are fortunate to have one of them. If you would like a book to mark the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the soft bound edition will be on sale at Barnes and Noble soon.
We are indebted to Senator Durbin for being the person who encouraged the President to be in Springfield for the birthday celebration.
The Abraham Lincoln Association is a terrific and effective organization in promoting Lincoln scholarship. If you have interest in Lincoln google the Association and learn about their projects.
Ann Tobin Hart
I have been a member of the Abraham Lincoln Association for many years. Years ago, due to my membership, we had the memorable opportunity to be at the commissioning of the aircraft carrier named for Lincoln. The ceremony was so moving it gave me goosebumps and then we toured the ship. It was an unforgettable experience. I still keep track of where the carrier is as much as possible.
How I would love to have been in Springfield for the 200th celebration of Lincoln's birth.
Barbara
I join Judy and Ann in boasting about being in Springfield for Lincoln's 200th. I was fortunate to attend a panel discussion called "Collecting Lincoln" at the museum last Sunday. I also discovered that Tom Schwartz, Illinois State Historian, is a former student from Herrick Junior High in Downers Grove. Although I did not have him in class, he remembered me and we had a nice visit.
On Monday I stood in line outside the Old State Capitol and was one of the first to buy the new stamps and first day covers. Then I attended the dedication of same, which was attended by Dick Durbin and the Postmaster General. (He referred to Mrs. Lincoln as Martha, much to the shock of the locals.) Anyway, it was a wonderful occasion.
On Wednesday evening I attended the "Let Freedom Sing" celebration at the Center. The Illinois Symphony played and many church and school choirs sang in a mass chorus. Fritz Klein said the Gettysburg Address while the orchestra played "Fanfare for the Common Man" and Bill Curtis did the narration for "A Lincoln Portrait". It was a wonderful evening, and as the old saying goes, "You just had to be there", to understand the emotion and good feelings all around.
On Thursday evening, Ed and I stood in our driveway and watched as Air Force One touched down, almost silently. It was like watching it land in our front yard. Later we watched it take off.
What a great week for Springfield!
Carolyn
Carolyn,
It's not clear which of the notables made that error and called Mary Todd....Martha. Do we razz the Senator or the Postmaster General? I am hoping for the latter, since it would be unforgivable for an Illinois man to make such a blooper.
Thanks also to Judy and Ann for their memorable accounts. I have the honor to have written a short piece in that book Ann mentioned, about the Lincoln statues. My piece is about a bust at the Lincoln Library, one of my favorite haunts in town. Next to Washington Park!
Will
I must add a comment to my original one that Will posted for me because my own wouldn't post here on the blog. While we were watching the events at the dinner at the Crowne Plaza, awaiting the arrival of President Obama, Dick Hart was at the podium, waiting for the Williamsville Choir to exit after we all sang the "Star Spangled Banner" and I have never seen such a happy, proud, expectant expression on anyone's face! Dick was a picture of pure joy as he was about to introduce the President. I felt so happy for him to be the one to have that great honor. I also want to comment on the wonderful book that Dick Hart compiled and edited called "Lincoln In Illinois" (the one Ann mentioned.) We all received a copy and it is a great volume about all the Lincoln statues in Illinois,with a picture of each, telling where the statue is located in Illinois and the title of the statue. What a great job, Dick. Thank you!
Judy
Hi, Will -
Sorry I didn't make it clear who said what -- the Postmaster General called Mary by the wrong name. I don't think he realized his mistake, but we sure caught it.
CQ
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