150th Anniversary of Lincoln's 272 Words

I was awake at 4:15am on the morning of November 19. I couldn't sleep and wondered if Lincoln, 150 years before, found himself awake at the same time. I was up because I knew this day - the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address - was a momentous occasion. If Lincoln was up, it probably was not because of pre-speech jitters. After all, he was not the keynote speaker; his presence was almost an afterthought. Instead, it was probably because the war that was ripping the nation apart was weighing heavy on his mind.

 

After a quick breakfast followed by some unfortunate car troubles, I was on a shuttle bus to the Soldiers' National Cemetery at 6:30am. By 6:45am, hundreds of us poured into the cemetery and into the white plastic chairs awaiting our arrival. With my spot secured, it was time to start the waiting game. It would be another three hours and fifteen minutes before the ceremony began.

 

According to The Weather Channel, it never got above 44 degrees with a wind chill of 37 degrees the entire time we sat there. Oh well, it's all mind over matter. This only happens once!

 

Around 9am, the musical portion of the program began. The same band I saw the night before at the train station, President Lincoln's Own Band, as well as the local high school band, were both outfitted in 19th century military dress and played for us. This was followed by the United States Marine Band.

 

At 10am, the program began. Dignitaries included Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the Governor of Pennsylvania, assorted US Representatives and Congressmen, Secretary of the Interior, Director of the National Park Service, Pulitzer Prize-winning author James McPherson, and, of course, President Abraham Lincoln portrayed by James Getty.

 

The entire program was very well done and included the Oath of Allegiance for 16 new citizens by Justice Scalia. It concluded with a moving performance of echo Taps.

 

Obviously, the highlight was James Getty's delivery of the Gettysburg Address. So, without further ado, here's my video of the Gettysburg Address on the 150th anniversary:

 

I took a few photos, but there are far better shots available elsewhere on the internet.

It was an incredibly moving experience to follow Lincoln's journey from the Gettysburg train station, to the David Wills house, and finally to the Soldiers' National Cemetery for the delivery of the Gettysburg Address.

I found myself saying, "this only happens once every 150 years," throughout the day, but a friend corrected me. In another 150 years, it will be the 300th anniversary. This moment - the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address - is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was an honor to be a part of it and I hope I'm able to be there as a 75-year-old man for the bicentennial in 2063.