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recognize is the building right behind us. i want to start by -- let's have a round of applause for the united states marine band, the presidents own brass quintet. we will hear a lot more from the lamb over the start of the next couple of hours. don't go away. they have a lot more to do. so, i will start by introducing who i am, and why i am here. my name is david j. can't. i am the president of the lincoln group of the district of columbia president or the lincoln group of d. c.. i assume that is for the lincoln group and not for me in particular. the lincoln group is one of the most active lincoln organizations in the country. even though we are based here in d. c., our membership is worldwide, really

worldwide, but especially country wide. we have been around since the 1930s. we are very happy today to have helped organizing this program along with the national park service. i want to call out jimmy boyle without whom none of this would have happened. it is co-sponsored by the lincoln forum of which harold holzer is the chair. he will be here shortly. i also want to think roberta and allied in shorts rubber whose general conversations helped underwrite this program as well as all of the other people who helped provide funds to get this done. my thanks and advanced all the speakers, all the contributors, supporters for making this program impossible. to give you a little bit of a preamble as we will hear during today's program, the memorial was dedicated in 1922, 100 years ago this month and a full 57 years after abraham lincoln this out assassination. over half a century after lincoln died, they finally put up a suitable memorial for him. we will hear a little bit about why it took so long. the speakers that day were the

chief justice and former president william howard taft who formally turned over the memorial to the than current president warren g. harding. there was another famous person here that day by the name of robert lincoln, president lincoln's son, who was present and had taken part in the development of the memorial but

who did not have a speaking role that day 100 years ago. one person who they have a speaking role at 100 years ago was doctor robert moton. he was an african-american director of the tuskegee institute and he was a presidential adviser. dr. moulton's words were sensor that day because we are in the midst of a segregation era. the ceremony itself was segregated. we will hear a lot more about doctor moon later today. in regards to dr. moon, we have a couple of bucks or vice versa. we have members of the tuskegee alumni association here today. we have a very special guest here today through the war of a john kelly at the washington

post and one of our members who prefers to remain in the backseat anonymous. we are able to locate for members of dr. robert ancestors or descendants. i want to have them stand up and i will introduce them. they should be over here. we have robert who is the great grandson. we have his wife, jennifer hardy. we have their daughter parker. robert is the great grandson which makes parker a great great granddaughter. that is not the end. we also have consular austin who weighs a great granddaughter. we are

happy that they were able to travel to d. c. and be part of this presentation and get to hear more about their great grandfather and great great grandfather from 100 years ago. let's begin the program. i have the distinct pleasure of welcoming charles sams the third. chuck sam's is -- was just confirmed last december as president biden's first rector of the national park service. chuck sam's is the first native american director of the national park service. he is an enrolled member of the

confederated tribes of the material indian reservation in northeast oregon where he grew up. sam's is a veteran of the u.s. navy and he served as an intelligence specialist and we are very very honored to have him today. please welcome to stand national park service director truck sam's. >> [speaking non-english] good morning my friends and relatives. i am so thankful to be here as the 19th director of the national park service. i want to welcome you to the

celebration of the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the lincoln memorial. i am honored to participate as lincoln memorial holds a very special place in my heart as i know it does in many of your's. last december, secretary haaland and i made the short walkover from the department of the interior building where i was sworn in on these very steps. standing where dr. king delivered his i have a dream speech in 1963. i held on to an

eagle feather and a medallion which were given to me by my grandfather, delay charles fcm senior, who fought in the second world war. i became the very first tribal citizen to lead the national park service. as we stood on these steps looking out onto the national mall, we want to feel the full effect that i was being charged by the president of the united states and the american people to be the student and keeper of our national parks, memorials, and monuments. she had me look at my feet so i could recognize that i was standing where dr. king had given his speech. he said to me that we now are part of his dream realized as to american indians serving on the national level under president biden. i would like to recognize the lincoln group of washington for their partnership with the national park service in the planning of today's program as well as the many other programs they have assisted with over the year. as a longest continuous serving like unsteady organization in the united states, they have partnered with us in recent years to celebrate and interpret this, the 150th anniversary of lincoln's first and second inaugurations, the emancipation proclamation, the gettysburg address, and the assassination of funeral train procession of president lincoln. i want to thank you for your unwavering commitment to ensuring that the life and work of abraham lincoln's not forgotten. i would also like to recognize jeff ryan bold -- putting together not only today's program but the entire month of talks, tours, and public engagement surrounding the 100th anniversary of the

lincoln memorial. will you please stand? doctor robert russa moten, principal of the tuskegee institute and lincoln second -- recognizing that america had fallen short of the great emancipator's vision of a nation of equality. with malice towards non-, with charity for all, i somehow believe that all of us are going to strive and finish the work which he so

nobly began to make american examples for the world of equal justice and equal opportunity for all. those words depend almost 100 years ago range route today in the u.s. struggling to create a nation where all people are actually created equal. the sacred national space of this space has become a focal point for the struggle. for marion

anderson in 1939 to dr. king in 1963 to the black lives matter protest of two summers ago, the lincoln memorial has created the preeminent stage for first amendment demonstrations, particularly with regards to civil rights. therein lies the power and importance of our national parks. yes, the site to preserve the past and enshrined the memories of the famous, but they also serve as important forums. they are places where we cannot only discuss the legacies of great americans like abraham lincoln but also can draw inspiration from that legacy to call for and enact change. here at the lincoln memorial, we can both learn where we came from as a nation and examine where we are headed. secretary haaland has

made it part of her mission to tell the full story of america, even the dark pages of our history books, so we can learn from the past and build a more equitable and inclusive future. i would be remiss as an american indian if i do not acknowledge the dakota 38 in which president lincoln had to make the decision in which the execution of the tribes would apprised during the dakota wars. i recognize that president lincoln had made hard decisions as i have learned throughout his life and drawn inspiration from him for 1989, the first time i came to washington d. c.. i came to read both of the inscriptions that are in this hall. in those descriptions, i recognize not only a strong president but also a flawed man. as i read his biography understanding the struggles that he had as a man, as a human being, to make the hard decisions, whether it was the execution of the dakota 38 or the decision that we must go to war, but the one thing that really rings true to me today as it does on the second inaugural is that it is only us as americans who will most likely be the seat of our own destruction. therefore, because of this experiment we call the united states, we must all work together to form that more perfect union. we must all strive to ensure that we can uphold freedom and equality to our fellow man. to that, i am very thankful for his presidency and i am very thankful for this memorial being here to remind the american people so that we can teach this for generations to come. it's not just on anniversaries or selective days throughout the year that we do this. the national park service is here every day of every year, watching over the lincoln memorial and other monuments, passing along the stories of heroism, honoring the work and sacrifices of those who came before and providing a powerful forum for americans to raise their voices and debates the issues of the day. the national park services and the forever will be remembered i perpetuity so grandchildren's grandc g will still be here. explaining how america that we know today and the blessings we enjoy as a free people were shaped by these great individuals in the national park that honor them.

i want to thank you all, god bless america and the men and women who are in uniform, both civilian and military. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, chuck sams. if you look at your program you'll notice the next person up here is a robert pollack. robert pollack unfortunately had a fall this week and couldn't be with us, but he sent jeffrey burden. the past commander in chief of the military order of the royal legion of the united states.

now, you've probably heard that mouthful a couple of times in the past. in fact, if you are here on lincoln's birthday it is the loyal legion that does most of the arranging to have that wreath-laying ceremony here at the lincoln memorial on lincoln's birthday. the military order of the royal legion of the united states, sometimes called mullah's, was formed immediately after the assassination of abraham lincoln. it has played a fundamental role in preserving the memory of our 16th president. so next up will be the current commander. sorry, the pass commander-in-chief, jeffrey burton. who will tell us about melissa and lead the presentation of colors and the pledge of allegiance. welcome, jeffrey burton. >> thank you david, and good morning. in 1921, as that lincoln memorial took its final shape and neared completion, president warren hardy requested that the military order of the legion of the united states takes

responsibility for organizing and coordinating the 1922 dedication event. the order and it's then commander in chief, general appleton, miles general of every border of the eastern theater, gladly accept that charge. as david, mentioned the loyal legion was founded in 1865. it was the first post civil war veterans organization created by and for men who had served as commissioned officers in the army and navy of the united states. it is now composed of relatives of those men and other interested persons. we who are companions of the loyal legion take special pride in the deeds and legacy of those who served under president lincoln. i'm pleased also to have with us today mr. ric berry, another past commander in chief of the loyal legion. [applause] and his daughter, beth rock, the current national president of the ladies of the grand army of the republic. since that dedication day in 1922, companions of the loyal legion

have come back every year on lincoln's birthday to renew that initial charge and pay homage to the man in who's silent presents we are today. i thank the lincoln group, the district of columbia and the national park service for their efforts today. and i trust that today's celebration will help renew our commitment to remembering abraham lincoln's life and work. and i thank you for attending. ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the preservation of -- presentation of the colors and the singing of the national anthem. followed by the pledge of allegiance. >> -- >> ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> please join

me in the pledge of allegiance. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america. and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. color guard, please retire the

colors. >> --thank you as you cf our guests are somewhat taller than i am. so our invocation will be offered by the reverend dr. sarah johnson. senior pastor at the new york avenue presbyterian church you know >> thank you. as you can see, some of our guests are somewhat taller than i am. so, our invocation will be offered by the reverend dr. sarah johnson.

the senior pastor at the new york avenue presbyterian church. while lincoln was president, this was lincoln's church. as well as the church of many of his cabinet members and members of congress. it was reverend wallace ratcliffe of the new york avenue presbyterian church who offered the invocation at the dedication ceremony here at the lincoln memorial 100 years ago. so, to continue that tradition, please welcome the reverent dr. sarah johnson. [applause] >> friends, let us pray. god, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. we thank you for the gift of this beautiful day and for the opportunity and privilege to gather to mark a memorable occasion. moment and monument, in our country's history. as we sit in the shadow of this great monument,

we remember and give thanks for the life and legacy of president abraham lincoln. and his unwavering commitment that a government of the people by the people and for the people who shall not perish from the earth. we humbly ask that the marking and memory of this day and of days before will not lawless and to a dreamlike state, an ill fed longing for the way things more. but will awaken as to see clearly the past as a truly was. the president as it still is. and to the future of liberty and justice for all, as you desire it to be. god, in whom we live and move and have our being, as we seek to live faithfully, help us to place our allegiance fully and finally in you. reconsecrate within us the courage to continue to strive

boldly together toward a more perfect union. dedicated to the proposition that all persons are created equal. free our souls and the soul of this nation, conceived in liberty and birthday in freedom, from the chains of that original sin of white supremacy, that still lurks in the shadows and systems and structures within which we live. are your grace and power, empower us to join in the work of an stitching the brutal threat of bondage. woven year after year into the fabric of our nation. guide us by the light of liberty, send us fourth in the spirit of truth. with malice toward none and charity for all, with firmness in the right as god gives us to see the right, may we strive ever forward. as repairs of the

breach. we ask all this in the name of the one who came, that all people might have life, and have it abundantly. amen. now i'm sure many of you recognize that piece. it's called -- written by jay and molly mason. for people of a certain age, we recognize this as the theme music from ken burns's tv series, the civil war. this was amazingly, a 1990, 32 years ago. that gets me to the beginning, really, of the history part of our program. if you are pointing to get there a program and you needed abraham lincoln expert for your major advance, for example, like today, more or you want someone to serve as a historical adviser for example, stephen spielberg on the movie lincoln'u

recognize that peace. it's called ashokan farewell. written by jay unger and molly mason and for at least people of a certain age would recognize this as the theme music from ken burns's. tv series the civil war which was amazingly in 1990 32 years ago. so that gets me to the beginning really of the history part of our program. and if you're putting together. a program and you need a neighborhood lincoln expert for your major event for example like today or you want somebody to serve as a historical advisor? for example steven spielberg on the movie lincoln or to write a book. highlighting the remarkable life

of one of world's most renowned sculptures. in daniel chester french it's a sure bet. that harold holder would be the first person that you call. and we did. so for many years harold was the senior executive of a metropolitan museum of art before moving on to become the jonathan fenton director of hunter colleges house public policy institute. the jonathan f. director of hunter college as roosevelt's house public policy institute. among his many leadership positions, his chairman of the chairman forum. we are very happy to hear he's cosponsoring today's event. harold has authored, coauthored, edited, collided, well over 50 bucks on. i've lost count. -- most of which are on my

shelf, by the way. and he has won many awards, including the 2015 gilder warm and lincoln prize, the most prestigious prize in the lincoln realm. he's also the author of the monument man, the life and art of daniel just a french, who, as you'll find out in a few minutes, had something to do with the statue up bind me. so this expertise and lincoln and martin makes him the perfect person to trace the history, the art, and the architecture, of the lincoln memorial. including the statue that has continue to inspire us and 100 years later. welcome to the podium, harold holder. [applause] >> good morning and thank you david for the introduction, and for all you've done. i can't help

thinking as i start, those of us on the platform have been looking across the reflective pool, and the square domed building and the distance, the old library of congress, is the site where abraham lincoln lived in a boarding house during his first term in congress. during which, he introduced the resolution to ban slavery and the district of columbia. i took him another 13 or 14 years to sign that legislation as presidents, but it's just an interesting flow of inexorable and hanzman of human rights from one side of the pool to the statue, and what's happened since. so daniel chester french, the sculptor whose great lincoln statue we're here to rededicate, was ones asked to describe what it was meant to convey, and this is what he said. work over victory. as you can tell, the

genius who was responsible for this amazing work of art did not believe and explaining, or any of this -- as he put it, as statue ought to speak for itself. it's useless to explain to everyone what it means, but it was so much media and trust him mustache you when it was installed here on the anniversary of the guinness book of end -- and then reveal to unhappiest later. there were so many requests for him to say what he had in mind. unusually, he relented. a succinctly as he could, he then issued what we might call the greatest caption on america. victory has. he was a man of many works of art, and few words. i don't think he would be surprised to see us gather here marking the 100th anniversary of its official

dedication. he still pondering his work and message. he was not surprised at the rave reviews, which included all inspiring, magnificent, colossal, and personal. that the statue earned when it was first dedicated, in his presence, and 19 2022. he fully expected to see it grow beloved forever. one of his last comments on the sites, which he visited when he was passed 80, was that he wished he could live for thousands of years just to be able to come back and look at the lincoln memorial. so who was daniel chester french? important to know, because the statue is far more famous than the statue maker. while he was a college dropout, yankees sculptor, who trained in massachusetts and new york, boston, and italy. he was only in his early twenties

when he created his first national icon the minutemen, for his hometown in congress. he works here in washington for a time, but too little acclaim. he had $8 a day to create statuary for post offices and other government buildings. those commissions he had because his father was assistant secretary of the treasury, who is in charge for -- then he did a statue of john gallagher and for the college campus, and later, put beautiful fountain -- at two ponce urkullu, where his collaborator was a young architect named henry bacon. as you can tell from those two commissions, french could do symbolism, and he could do real-ism. very few people, very few artists crossed over between those two styles as beautifully. he could do men and angels, women's angels, and

he, a colleague once said he preferred doing torsos to doing treasures. i let that sink in four minutes. as you can tell, when he got a treasure commission, he did fine. he went on to sculpt civil war heroes like general grants and general booker. he never portrayed a confederate gentleman. when it came time to choose a sculptor for this project, there was no formal competition. at age 65, french was the first and only choice. not only because he was head of the commission organizing the search for the architect, which he was, not just because the contract he signed with henry bacon, the design, or simulated that baking could choose the sculptor, which he dead, and

not because he had already done a beautiful lincoln for lincoln nebraska and the state capital, which he also did. i think he got the job because he was the greatest live in american sculptor, and also because no one dare to say he shouldn't. godson borg also said that he wanted the commission, but he had to settle for mount rushmore, which was not a bad alternative. french set to work in 1915. from a mound of and art clay, no preparatory drawings that we've ever discovered, working at his beautiful studio and stop ridge massachusetts, somehow crafted a fully formed little 13-inch model. this is the part that as much as i, and on, us can write about an artist, that i don't fathom. there is the clay, and a week later, there is the lincoln memorial. i see the great lincoln artist, wendy allen here, not dane. she may know how it's done, but i don't

know how it's done. it's called creative genius. its hands resting on a chair of states, gays cast downward, and ease but and commands, relaxed but tents, we worry but accomplished. the basic concept never really changed from that initial burst of inspiration. where did the idea originate? the french never said. somehow he could see it in his minds eyes from the start. but he did realize when he called the responsibility of making a statute of the nation's best loved man in a beautiful, beautiful building. he wanted, he said, to make it a little better than i know how. and he did. he wanted to express simplicity and grandeur at the same time, along with power. it does. now he turned to models like lincoln's life mask and the cast of lincoln's hand, hands made the day after his nomination, to the president. but instead of using them, he

made cast as own hands, the way he wanted them to rest. the french believe that hands were almost as important as the face, send lincoln needed to show strength and power, but friendliness. and those original cast, lincoln right hand is clenched because his hand was swollen that day. french did not believe lincoln should have a clenched right hands, it should be open in an eternal act of approachability and friendliness. instead of having the left leg extend like it did in the original model, he change it to emphasize the right. to him, it was just a different type of -- he was ready to get up, ready to do what needed to be done. should he make the -- sink even lower on the chest, as it had -- no, french concluded that lincoln would look for a loan rather than resolute. after sculpting in a three foot bottle, then a

seven i and, he was ready to get to work on the 13 foot statue commission for the site. finally, he visited here. henry bacon, the architect, took him on a tour inside the 60 foot high adrian that you see in front of you. suddenly, dan french realize that his original concept was just too small. the statue would be dwarfed in this vast space. so we asked the government to give him more funding, more marble, to enlarge the statue to 19 feet. $25,000 was a lot of money in the 19 teens. the powers that be resisted, so he made, on his own, a larger plaster had, shipped down here, had it hoisted to the hype that the statues had is here, and insisted that officials come and see it. they did, and they admitted that he was right and admitting his eminem jewel mistake, so they gave him the additional funds. before the

statue came fully to life here, it had many birthplace as. shasta wouldn't stop bridge, manhattan where he worked, the other half of each year when he wasn't in the berkshire's. as well as the bronx, new york, home of the first place new york yankees, sorry. a tally an immigrant marble -- the piccirilli brothers, they carved away to the sound of karoo so records. the daily nourishment of ravioli made by the brothers, they labored away on 240 tons of more bowl blocks, no don't mind by black laborers and georgia. in a sense, inclusively an american enterprise. then, imagine, the statue, all 28 pieces, all but seven of them carved, was never assembled until it was shipped here by rail, and installed here for the first time in

1919. this is under french supervision. it fits perfectly. no one was sure it would, but it did. those who were visiting in the early fall of 1919 might have seen a thin fall ugly challenged, my kind of guy, sculptors, scampering up and down ladders to polish out areas that he wanted to polish, to fill in the seams that you could not see the seams bonding those 21 pieces. from one foot 10:19 feet, it had retained its power, humanity, and coherence. so on this hundred ten adversary, what do we owe daniel trust her french? beyond his truly monumental talents, i want to count some of the ways. he championed henry bacon as an architect, his frequent collaborator. he resigned is chairman of the commissioner of fine arts, and then bacon appointed him the sculptor. it was a win-win for creativity.

he insisted, as i said, that the statue be just the right size to fill the atrium, yet respectful of the magnificent space. he insisted it be marble, not bronze, which is one of the original alternatives, and many prefer. consider the harmony that that choice has produced. marble and granite. he insisted that it not be standing, which some people want, but a seed lincoln, because he wanted lincoln's face to be fully visible from the reflective wall to the bottom stop to the platform, all the way to the stop. a standing lincoln might have denied visitors that transcendent experience. he realized that the open-door policy we all cherish, because it lets us visit anytime, day

or night. wound up, casino harsh glare on his masterpiece. he saw the lighting first time when he came back from italy. so he stalled, he first investigated, then installed, the first electric lighting here, that made his lighting look perfect 24/7. he also, by the, way championed it's citing here on the wall. there were so many alternatives that originally. union station, capitol hill, meridian port, the soldiers -- the naval observatory, this all existed as -- and he, and lincoln's one-time private secretary, then secretary of state john hey, they all thought that it should be in an isolated area and an accessible area. even when the speaker of the house said that he would do anything he could to prevent the statue of his hero arising in this swap. he didn't say gosh darn,

this is a family event. finally, french, he commissioned the words behind the statue. and this temple, et cetera. he assigned the job to a magazine writer who didn't come through. then he wisely chose an art critic to had written very kind words about daniel just a front as work. what a good idea. he also praised the statue for us ghostly grounder, so he got the job. maybe this wasn't interlocking directory with some conflicts of interest, but didn't turn out well? maybe france should've insisted that not just the gettysburg addressed, and second inaugural that he carved inside, but the emancipation proclamation which lincoln believed was the central act. french said he

wanted to stress lincoln's confidence in his ability to carry the thing through. what thing? he never really said. instead, french quoted another one of his one time models for a sculptor, sculpture, rob -- an artist like a poet is entitled to credit for anything that anyone can find in his work. ultimately, over the generations, we have found many -- the statue has evolved from a symbol of a union, into a stage for equality an opportunity for lincoln called our unfinished work. looming behind this -- for 100 years has been daniel chester front a statue, an image that replaced uncle sam as the national symbol. in caricature an in cartoon, whether weeping over the death of president kennedy and one famous cartoon, or office bumping president obama and another, on his inauguration. it's also the place for presidents hosts

their final events before the inaugurations. either celebratory or -- the kinds of remote events filled with poppies, we're presenting the dead of covid that president elect biden held here on january 19th, 2021. of course, it's emerged as the backdrop to the american dream of governments, of, by, and for the people. and an agent -- has come under scrutiny, when some statues have come down, even lincoln statues. this one remains a national touchstone. it's as indestructible as we'd like to think we the people are. it would not have happened if all the pieces had not fit into place, literally and figuratively, for an artistic tour de force, and an american icon by one supremely gifted, if tight-lipped, american artistic genius. so, maybe to daniel chester french, we can all say 100 years later, what

he wants side of his lincoln. work over victory has. in line with his vision, let's continue to cherish his artistic victory while pursuing the nations incomplete work. thank you. [applause] >> thank, you harold. next up we have one of the leading experts in abraham lincoln. as well as reconstruction and 19th century african american history. doctor edna greene met forward is professor amara dusts at howard university, just up the road here. he spends over 35 years at howard university. she was the professor at the history department, he was chairperson at that -- >> she was director of graduate and undergraduate programs, provost,

and even interim dean at the college of arts and science. she's very happily just retired. so she served in a variety of leadership roles, and is currently the vice president of the abraham lincoln institutes, as well as on the executive committee of the lincoln forum. she's written many books, and papers, she is won many awards, including the order of lincoln, which is the highest award given by the state of illinois. this is named after some guy who's named after abraham lincoln. her most recent book was called lincoln and emancipation. so doctor medford will trace, for us, the ever evolving meaning of the lincoln

memorial. over its hundred-year history, it's grown from something focus initially on national unity, to its growing role and civil rights and a symbol of hope for all americans. i might add, a baseball team that we took a picture of this morning, on the steps, a wedding ceremony that took place in their, and that took their picture of the lincoln memorial, and you might see the remnants of some local colleges who've had their graduation pictures taken out here at the lincoln memorial. with that, please welcome dr. ed craig green medford. my [applause] >> thank you mister can't. thank you to the lincoln group of d. c. for the invitation to speak to this wonderful audience this morning who i believe, you're all baking just like i am. i'll try to be brief. i may 30th, 1922, i diverse group of americans gathered at the sites to honor the most celebrated man ever elected to national office, at least in this country. in

attendance for top governmental officials, including the presidents, the chief justice of the supreme court, himself a former president, cabinet members, senators, and representatives. the president's oldest and, it is only surviving son. as well as ordinary folks who collectively shared a moment in american history that would grow in meaning and significance with time. reflecting the unity and reconciliation that the memorial was meant to symbolize, the audience consisted of confederate and union veterans, advance ages had, perhaps, timbered the animosity, their animosity towards each other. the attendees also included black union veterans, and other members of the african american community. contrary to the spirit of national togetherness, they occupied a space separate and apart from the rest.

the principal, for president, of the tuskegee institute, and one of the most prominent black latin the nation, dr. morton, had the privilege and in many ways a burden, of give a voice to the unique concerns of 12 million black americans.'s initial draft concluded what a moderate condemnation of the federal government. he said this could send soldiers abroad to defend the freedoms of of their men and women, but appear to lock the will to do the same for black americans at home. he assured the audience that african americans, men and women, expected no special privileges, but declared that they sought the largest enjoyment of opportunity, and the fullest blessings of freedom. this was not the speech of an agitator. and, that he intended simply to make the case for inclusion of all people in america's promise. he sought to honor lincoln by reminding the audience that the

presidents work remains unfinished. ceding to the radical operation, animus of the day, then morial commission refused to approve such a candid assessment of race relations in america. chief justice top the commission, and insisted that mode and modify his speech to make it more palatable to the anticipated predominantly white audience. moton complied by delivering a speech that focused on the accomplishments of african americans, in spite of the daily challenges they face. he assured the audience that in the years sends the manse a patient, black citizens have proven themselves worthy of lincoln sacrifice. gone was any overt criticism of the governments. despite the

commissions efforts to censor the -- and limit a memorial -- the site would become a backdrop for rallies, both large and small. where americans advocated conservative ideas as well as progressive ones. it would be a silent host to anti war demonstrations, to presidential, prion or will gatherings, to bump pro choice and pro life rallies, to religious gatherings and, more recently, to protests while covid-19 mandate. moreover, the memorial has been a consistent and effective symbol for organizations pressing for social justice, and a more inclusive america. while every gathering on these grounds has

had particular meaning for its organizers, and participants, it has been the urgency, and intensity, of the civil rights movements, of movement that continues to live, if in an altered form, that has given the memorial so much relevance to our time. the expanded meaning of this place i found expression in the forum not so much of a protests, or a civil rights rally, per se, but rather, in an easter sunday, 1939 gathering of thousands of, tens of thousands of people, to hear the famed control chao, baron anderson, in concert. this denied access to constitution hall by the daughters of the american revolution who adopted a policy of barring block performers from the facility stage. anderson situation came to the attention a first lady, eleanor

roosevelt, in the secretary of the interior, harold skis, who offered -- as a memorial site. the setting differed significantly from the 1922 dedication, and both size and inclusive status. anderson saying that the crowd is estimated at 75, 000, with untold numbers listening in by radio. this time, black americans were spared the indignity of separation from the rest of the audience. the offense did more than celebrates the talents that exceptional center, it signaled the ability of americans to ensure a shared experience without one racial group being treated as inferior. in so doing, it became a place where all citizens were welcome. two years later, when labor leader and civil rights activists --

threatened a large plan on washington to bring attention to issues of discrimination and employment, and segregation in the military, the lincoln memorial was proposed as the rallying point. randolph canceled the march, only after president franklin roosevelt issued an executive order that delayed some of the protesters concerns. two decades later, a march in washington would take place, and the memorial would serve as a compelling backdrop to the demand for jobs and freedom. the 1963 march was attended by an estimated 250, to 300,000 people of various racial and socioeconomic persuasions. among the prominent organizers and

organizers and speakers of the day was the 34-year-old martin luther king junior, he is now famous i have a dream speech convey to those assembled the message that dr. moulton had wanted to communicate for decades earlier. although the candidate administration urged doctor king to temper his speech just as they ask dr. bolton to, do dr. king was able to effectively express, an eloquent prose, the struggle of african americans 100 years after lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. they were still, according to dr. king, they were still bore the burden of segregation, and discrimination, and poverty. they remained marginalized in their own country. yet, standing before the lincoln memorial, king remained optimistic. he envisioned a future america which lincoln's believes that everyone should

have a fair chance in the race of life. social justice groups continue to pick out there at this memorial, because it is a reminder that change is possible, even when the circumstances appear hopeless. the challenges the nation faced a, century and a half, ago seems formidable, but the union endured because of strong leadership, and the will have enough people to secure its survival. our challenge, are no less daunting. they can be met successfully. as a nation founded on the principle that all men, and by extension, all women, are created equal, and are entitled to the rights given by god to all of humanity. we proudly proclaim our exceptionalism, but history and current events remind us that our exceptionalism is more and aspiration than reality. it is in our power, however, individually and collectively

to actualize that exceptionalism by resolutely and courageously confronting the challenges that keep us divided. and too much like every other nation on earth. and his actions to preserve union and in slavery, lincoln showed that courage, this memorial gives us hope that we can do the same. so, as we gather here today, challenged by the forces of hate and fear and overt attacks on democracy, we should commit ourselves to finishing lincoln's work, to ensuring and equally inclusive society, to do what is best for the nation and not for ourselves individually. when we can do this, we will have earned the right to think of

ourselves as exceptional. we will have properly earned the man for whom this memorial was built. [applause] >> thank you, doctor medford. basically i get to come up here and introduce everybody, that is my main role today. i have a special privilege of introducing our next speaker who is our keynote speaker for the day. doctor charlotte morris is the current and ninth president of tuskegee university, which is the current iteration of what was tuskegee institute 100 years ago. when her predecessor, doctor robert moulton spoke here at the dedication. dr. morris is only the second woman to hold the position of president of the institution, in her 36 years a tuskegee she has had many many roles there, including as the associate dean of the college of business and information scientists, and three times as interim president. she and her ph. d.

at kansas state university after receiving a masters degree at all state and jackson state university. today she continues in the tradition begun by doctor robert rosa mountain, will speak to our theme of speaking on abraham's linkedin vision of unity and equality. please welcome dr. charlotte morris. [applause]. >> thank you. good morning. to my platform guests, members of the lincoln group, ladies and gentlemen. on behalf of tuskegee in diversity, its board of trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, and students, i offer my sincere appreciation to the lincoln group of the

district of columbia and the united states national park service for extending this invitation to provide remarks at this important commemoration. i'm also gratefully acknowledging our special guests and the audience, including of course the tuskegee university board of trustees, my colleagues from the campus, my family, and other friends who have joined here for this occasion. [applause]. on this day, we, to gather, celebrate the 16th president of these united states of america and affirm president abraham lincoln as a charismatic and forward leader of the free world. our

continued observance at this memorial is a reminder of the human yearning to be free and equal, search a quest emanates when oppressed people are dead night the -- liberty, equity, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. the promise of america was to provide equal opportunity to all its citizens. when these rights were denied people congregate in this place to publicly express their dismay and seek redress. therefore, we, together, must be willing to

accept the truth about the state of america's democracy and labor continuously to change it's an equitable practices. if we do not, future marches across the united states will undoubtedly become a permanent reminder of america's hypocrisy and taint the spirit of our democracy. as we stand on these grounds i am reminded of the politics 100 years ago, as has been stated, one doctor robert russell moon, mountain, the second president of testing university deliver the first address to this memorial is the only african american speaker. doctor moulton wrote an impressive and powerful missive on may 30th, 1922, it was a courageous indictment against americas fractured and faltering progress towards racial equity and justice for all its people. however, the audience never really received the full measure of dr. mountains

intended message, his written remarks to the segregated audience was severely censored. later, according to the national park service on may 30th, 2009, the event leaders selected doctor benjamin paton, the fifth president tuskegee diversity to deliver his memorial address. doctor peyton was given a prominent see on the stage and reserved seats on several rows for university board members, alumni, and other guests. president peyton's unedited remarks were insightful and paid homage to lincoln's -- and acceptable leadership. so, some changes did come. but what happened to those changes? today, i stand on the shoulders of both presidents molten and peyton,

like lincoln, they provided exemplary leadership at a time when the country was still mired and divisive discussion surrounded the rights and freedoms of american people, particularly people of color. so, in the spirit of both president lincoln and my tuskegee university predecessors, i to offer my remarks. i hope these ideas will further implore all of us to reflect on the past and plan for the transformational future with malice toward none.

president lincoln was an unflappable leader, in an and popular war, who drafted unheard of legislation, assumed unconstitutional and unprecedented executive powers as our nations commander and chief. fostered uncommon protestant alliances in an attempt to preserve his beloved union at all cost. and bring these flawed nations from the brink of destruction by its own hand. lincoln's adept leadership and mastery of both the law and governance laid the foundation for public policy enactments, still undergo to our infrastructure today, as noted by author, david kent. the moral act, which established the university systems and provided federal land and funds for postsecondary education institutions, focused on agricultural, mechanical arts, an rotc programs. the establishment of the department of agriculture, the u.s. invites grant of 1864, which set aside the first protected park on federally owned land and which was the purpura to the establishment of the national park system from his address to the emancipation proclamation, lincoln

demonstrated his desire for a new birth of freedom. lincoln's vision has become the hallmark of our democracy and has employed us to become a government of the people, by the people, for the people, that shall not perish from this earth. we must can say that president lincoln was more the great emancipator, he was a visionary guardian of truth, freedom, and justice. as someone so aptly said, he was not building america to last for a day but through the ages.

america is bathed in centuries of oppression. 246 years after its founding in 1776 we remain a nation yearning to find freedom and equality as we work to form a more perfect union. our yesterday, our yesterday's are now irreversible imperfections to be remembered, but not repeated. as a nation, our today's should be brimming with the substantive policies, laws actions and sacrifices needed to make us whole. yet, they are not. if lincoln were here today, he might shed a silent mournful tier for the condition of his beloved country. the lofty words about freedom and equality in the constitution and the declaration of independence have a hollow ring in the years of minorities. abraham lincoln

stood for truth, for ethics, for initiative, and for economic free press and enterprise. he stood for belief and freedom, for a belief in god, and for belief and human forgiveness. these qualities of his character made him one of the most highly respected statesman in the history of the world. and these are the transformational policies that will help to keep our nation great in the future. but, america is stuck right now,

america is stuck in a moral morris of ethic proportions, our collective hopes for the future are once again in peril. factions among us seeks to invalidate the civil rights and liberties guaranteed to each of us. our beloved country is divided and imploring for, from the inside, while legislators stand idly by, insulating themselves with their growing and diversity lacked. some leaders where -- that is ever-changing as the circumstances demand. our leaders pretend to hear no evil and see no evil when it comes to anti black violence gun violence, voting rights, women's rights, and civil rights. where is the accountability? from home shall we extract a proactive response to the issues that plagued our citizen tree. how then do we become a reconciled proactive country, seizing every opportunity to face, embrace, and uphold the rights of all people as our founding fathers intended. regrettably, we have forgotten president lincoln's quote, nations do not die from invasion, they die from internal rotten this. yes, america, internal rotten this is still alive and incubating in the plain sight. internal rot occurred on january 6th,

truly that was a day that will live in infantry. on that day,, the cancerous big lie metastasized because we allowed a tyrant to incite an insurrection that nearly toppled our democracy. the cancer cells spread from the site where they were emerged and have now infected the body politics and state governments throughout the world. if a booker t. washington, the founding principle of testy institute was alive today, he would have told these insurrectionists, a lie doesn't become true, wrong doesn't become right, and evil doesn't become good just because it is

accepted by the majority. like lincoln, i two love america, i have lived in the deep south all of my life, and like many of us have witnessed the unsavory side of americas inequities. these experiences have not changed my resolve, however, i still have confidence in our country, and confidence in our future. however, i am also a realist. i know we can enact laws to seek equality, but we cannot legislate emotions or dispel the venom from the hearts of

those who seek to limit positive change. we must change the equation and the consciousness of those who seek to trample the rights of others. we must change their thoughts of being better than others, two thoughts of being equal to others. each of us must agree to recognize our own

ethel centrists's and remove that filter from our social discourse. only then can we truly engage and embrace our people in a spirit of positivity instead of self righteousness. only then can the bond of reconciliation be applied. so, as a woman of color, and the president of a thriving historically black university, i say to you today, lincoln's vision is in serious jeopardy. maybe drowning in a sea of apathy, unless we, you and i, in partnership with our leaders, develop the courage to advocate for equity, justice, and voting rights, the willingness to promote unity and inclusion, the fortitude to champion ethics, accountability, and integrity, the foresight to make real a vision that is long overdue. therefore, let us direct our attention to the consensus we must pursue without malice, but with foresight, forethought, to make america the democratic bastion of freedom for all citizens. together let us lobby our politicians to pass the freedom to vote act. together lettuce consent to build broad coalitions in defence of our democracy and work across the many aisles that divided. this together, let us aggressively affirm the words and the declaration of independence all are created equal. therefore,

all lives matter. that includes black lives to. together, let us pledge to think for ourselves, and never allow social media or public opinions to speak for us. to establish the standard by which we gauge true, to determine our self-worth, or to define our democratic values. and get our young people hope the future. you gotta let us work with our communities, our state legislators, and congress, to reorganize our mental health system, facilities, and staff so that violent acts like the

one we just experienced in buffalo, and earlier in charleston, do not happen again. together, let us remind ourselves of lincoln's vision of unity, and equality, by keeping it in the forefront of our discussions, and conferences, and strategy sessions for unparalleled reach and impacts. and, together, let us never allow this, hatred, or racism to become the internal brightness that overshadows our democracy. if we do not change soon, we will succumb to a force of intolerant malice. negating that very premise on which our nation was built. to exist proactive change before belittling the symbolic message of the lincoln memorial. therefore, let us revise our paradigm to avoid the perils of a divided house. these words, a house divided against itself cannot stand. must serve as a

guy post for both today and the future. such words are perpetual reminders of the deafening cries of freedom inclusion, diversity, equity, social justice, and equality on our journey toward shared oneness and hold democracy. may they's words, a house divided against itself cannot stand, forever awakenings to the fragile-ness of our democracy. but never take root in the souls of our nation. america, the world is watching. therefore, let us do as lincoln suggested and elevate the condition of all people, whether in ukraine, africa, asia, the middle east, or the americas, and afford to all and

on vetted start and a fair chance in this race of life. you deserve it, and so do i. thank, you may god bless these united states of america. [applause] >> and that, thank you very very much to doctor charlotte lawrence, you can see from the cloud how much they appreciate it. we do have one more history oriented talk before we get

back to some music. i would like to welcome to the podium doctor frank smith, who is the director of the african american civil war museum here in washington, d. c.. dr. smith is a founding member of the student nonviolent coordinating committee at morehouse college back in the 1960s. everyone here has probably heard of it, and it is one of the members, the late congressman, john lewis. dr. smith has lived in washington, d. c., since 1968 where, among his many community service roles he served on the d. c. city council for four turns. he earned his ph. d. from the union institute and ohio, and he founded and serves as the executive director of the african american civil war museum, as i mentioned, right here in washington d. c.. please welcome dr. frank smith. [applause]

>> thank you very much, my name is frank smith and i am a

founding director of the african american civil war memorial here in washington d. c.. today is august 22nd, 2022, and, it is actually the day that we celebrate the african american civil war memorial as founders day. it was this day, back in 1963, when the president, created within the military something called the united states colored troops. it was the bureau of united states color troops role to recruit the train, and then deploy 200,000 african american soldiers in the civil war. this soldiers were being brought into the union army under paragraph eight of the emancipation proclamation, which we refer to as the enforcement clause. now, for those who are historians among

us you know that these three amendments are, the emancipation proclamation and the three amendments that followed are the only threw that half enforcement clauses in them. the enforcement clause of the emancipation proclamation paragraph eight, in paragraph eight said peter persons of suitable conditions will be enlisted in the union army. so, it did not just say all slaves are free, lincoln also said persons of suitable conditions will be enlisted in the union army. and since most of the 3. 9 enslaved people in the south, that meant basically he was going to arm the slaves. he gave the south 100 days to come back in the union or paragraph it would become law in january of 1863. and by the time we come to may 22nd the

military had organized itself. and so, what you say standing next to me now is a representation of what was the enforcement clause of the emancipation proclamation. these men and women put on uniforms and walked out on these battlefield, giving these various battles, congress never would have passed the 13th amendment, 14th amendment, and 15th amendment. now, by the time i came along with the 1960s we had ended slavery in the united states. but, if we

had not ended it by and then we certainly would've ended up by then. the 159th anniversary of the university of bureau of color troops i am happy to be back here in front of the memorial. as a young worker i came here in 1963. at the time i was not one of the speakers, i was a fill secretary. i was a foot soldier, i was a private with the student organizing committee. i was sitting under one of those trees over there, trying to find about 20 degrees of coolness, which was not possible back in those days. every day i come here, and i come a, lot, i go back to those days when dr. king made that famous i have a dream speech, you know the one, standing about the same location. but, today, i stand to recognize 209 45,000 african americans who fought in the war, 150,000 of them were enslaved when the war started. just to put this in some kind of historical context, slavery, for those of you for spending your sunday morning here at this memorial, slavery has not existed for years,, slavery is mentioned in the bible. everybody know slavery has not existed for years but slavery only has certain characteristics. only went four for five years, after a period of time a person was given land or something. called reparations, something to get started with, a little bit of money so they could get started, and then at the end of that period of enslavement the person regained all of their citizenship rights. so, the

last period of time, they got compensation at the end, and they regain their citizenship rights. except american slavery was not like that. that was one of the features of slavery in the bible as well, that was once you have been enslaved you could never be a soldier. you could be a citizen, you could vote, get married, do all of those other things but you could not become a soldier. so, lincoln not only found a way to on the slaves, he did something that was a historical. that is, he made soldiers out of them in

order to save the precious jewel of democracy here in the united states. so, i'm happy to represent those 200,000 soldiers who joined, who went on on the battlefield. they gave their lives, they fought and battles. at fort wagner, at fort hudson, you know about that. in nashville and petersburg, and by the time we get to 1865 or 64, late 64 and 65 they create something called the 25th army corps here in washington, d. c.. regiments from all over. i am sorry, it was created in richmond, virginia. they bring those soldiers there because they are trapped enrichment and this war is about to be bought to a military close. and, at the military close they wanted to flash some of these african american soldiers who had been in battles that i mentioned before, as a part of that. and so, many of those regiments were not only present there in petersburg, but, several of them chased robert e. lee from richmond to -- and one of the regiments engages him when he is trying to break out of there and range on johnson in north carolina. when he stays that large group of african american soldiers he realizes he cannot win this war. they wars over, he is outnumbered, outgunned, and those evil minded african americans, their row does not end there. they end up back enrichment and eventually end up in a place called galveston, texas on june 19th of 1865. the war is over, president lincoln has been killed, the soldiers were not invited to the march on washington. but, i end up

down and galveston, texas, which gives us a national holiday that we now know as juneteenth. we get juneteenth because president lincoln says let the emancipation go wherever the army goes. and so, when granger arrived in galveston on june 19th he was not late getting there. it was june 19th, lincoln was killed in april. the parade took place in may. it was june 19th, he was a little late getting there but when he did arrive the people in galveston shouted hallelujah, they were glad to see this army. and he had with him 6000 african american soldiers who have been a part of that march from richmond to -- an hour in galveston. the last of the terrorists wiped out who are going back and forth across these borders. we are happy to pay tribute to president abraham lincoln, he has our president who gave us a

chance to fight for our freedom. we joined up in large numbers, we give our lives it large numbers, we came home to enjoy the great bounty of those benefits of those amendments. you all know this, for a period of reconstruction. and we had to do it all over again in the 1960s. and that prove something else that we all have to remember as african americans. you can win these rights, and you have to win them all over again if you lose them. we won these rights in a civil war, people were getting elected to office in mississippi, alabama, and georgia. they were winning an office by the time we get back into mississippi in 1960. they lost those rights and now we have to win them all over again. and looks like you are always having to fight for those rights in the united states. but, we are up to the battle because we had seen some great things happen, we had seen one african american get elected president of the united states. african americans are around world in college in the united states. over 3 million african americans enrolled in college in the united states.

we have seen great things happen, we attended the battlefield and continue to work to try and make real the dreams of president abraham lincoln. this would be a country where all people are created equal, that are endowed by their creator with all rights and privileges. so, thank you very much on behalf of the bureau of the united states color troops and the african american civil war museum, congratulations to all of, you thank god for the united states of america, and president abraham lincoln. ♪ ♪ ♪ zion really want to hear some music? i've already had the pleasure of listening to our next guest, when she sang the national anthem. so, foolish a curry is familiar to many many of us in the d. c. area. she started and received critical acclaim and many stage

productions. she's received many recognitions for her work, including the prestigious helen hayes award. for those people that live in this area, you've no doubt seen her as the host of w eta arts, the local pbs station, which is local only in name only, it is known across the country. she is currently starring in our town, with the shakespeare theater company. in fact, not long after this and

she will be racing downtown to star in a 2:00 performance. so, we are very happy she was able to come here today. felicia curry it is also an associate artist at fort theater, which, i'm sure everyone recognizes the place that abraham lincoln is assassinated. this past fall she starred as marion anderson in the play, my lord would a night, which was about marion anderson staying with one of my favorite guys, upper einstein, in princeton when she went there for a concert and was refused the ability to stay at the local hotel. so, she stayed with albert einstein, they became good friends. so, it is

with great pleasure that i welcome again to the microphone felicia curry who will sing from one of the songs that marian anderson saying on these steps in 1939. she'll be back in a little bit to sing a song that i'm sure everybody will remember but this is one of the spiritual's that was sung by marian anderson. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

[applause] now, during the course of the day, you've heard words from lincoln often on from our different speakers. as president lincoln grew up in the district of columbia, i can say that you can never hear too many words from lincoln. so, we'll have some more for you. and, in fact, we have a special honor of having stephen lang speak some of the words from lincoln. i first met stephen in

statuary hall in the national capital in 2015 for the second inaugural event, in which he read lincoln's second inaugural. steven is a star of stage, screen, and television. he is many dozens of credits and all of those venues. he's also an author, a producer, a writer. he is one a tony award nomination and won the saturn award for best supporting actor for a little movie that came out in 2009 called avatar. this is probably where most people have seen him. if you liked avatar, here and look,, because there is a sequel to avatar coming out later this year, after all of these ears, there is a sequel called avatar the way of water. it will come out.

he will again stars a ruthless colonel, miles court, so, he is the bad guy in the movie, if you haven't seen the movie. he's a good bad guy. civil war buffs know that stephen lying is himself a civil war buff. he's also known for rules such as major general george pickett in the movie gettysburg. and as confederate general thomas stonewall jackson in gods and generals. i saw somebody with a copy of gods and generals that

was getting it signed earlier today. so, we're very happy to have him here today, so, please welcome stephen lang. [applause]. >> thank you. when 50,000 people gathered here, 100 years ago, to dedicate this memorial, they heard speeches from an american president, from a former president, and from the head of a historically black land grant college in alabama founded under law signed by the man honored in this magnificent building, abraham lincoln. yet, as we know, it was an imperfect dedication. one thing it is a segregated one it would take marion anderson, and dr. martin luther king to write that wrong for this memorial and, indeed, for this nation. but, for now, i'll take you back. may 1922, a century ago, this month, when americans, even americans denied the full promise of lincoln's new birth of freedom. could hear and inside this building, they could read the words that at least promised a

more perfect union where all people, as lincoln put it, had the right to an equal chance in the race of life. on that hot memorial day, organizers called on a poet to consecrate this building, far above their power to exult lincoln in pros. the opportunity to write and recite a poem on dedication day had attracted 250 entries, in wet may have been the largest poetry competition ever held up until that time. our winner was a 70 rolled men, edwin markham, from oregon. he wrote versus that one critic hailed as the greatest poem ever written on the immortal murder and the greatest that ever will be

written. well you can judge for yourself whether markham surpassed whitman, melville, and sandburg, and langston hughes. so, here are the closing lines of edwin markham's poem, lincoln, the man of the people. up from the log cabin to the capital, one fire was on his spirit, one resolve, to send a keen ax to the root of wrong. clearing a freeway for the feet of god, the eyes of conscience testing every stroke to make his deed the measure of a men. he built the rail pile as he built the state. pouring his spending

strength through every blow, the grip that swung the ax and illinois was on the -- that set people free. so came the captain with his mighty heart. and when the judgment thunder split the house, ranging the rafters from their ancient rest, he held the ridge pull up and spiked again the rafters of the home. he held his place, held the long purpose, like a growing tree. held on through blame and faltered not at praise. and when he fell in whirlwind, he went down as when the lord lee-seater green with bows goes down with a great shout upon the hills. leaves alone someplace against the sky. so spoke edwin markham. but visitors that day, pilgrims to the spa ever sense could

find some of the most sublime poetry ever written incised permanently into the very walls behind me. then, as now, framing their author, surrounding the great statue that looks down on us from its chair of state. on november 19th, 1863, this is what he said, 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 grave battlefield

of that war, we have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who hear gave their lives, that nation might live. it is all together fitting and proper that we should do this. but, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot concentrate, we cannot hollow this ground. the brave men living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. the world with little -- while longer member 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 a motion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. that this nation, under god, shall have a new breath of freedom. and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. and words from the second inaugural on march 4th, 1865, fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray that the

mightiest courage of war may speedily pass away. yet if god wills it, continue on to all the wealth piles by the 250 years of unrequited toil shall be some, and, until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said

3000 years ago, so, still, it must be said, the judgments of the lord are true and righteous altogether. with malice toward none. with charity for all. with firmness in the right as god gives us to see the right, let us strive on! to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds, to care for him who shall have born the battle, and for his widow, and for his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace. and, with all nations -- difficult, it is impossible to follow those magnificent words. but, i will close by reading the brave and very beautiful epigraph that a new york newspaper man, was very little advanced notice, created for the appalachians that, to this day, still greats us as we approach lincoln and throne. it further reminds us that in the greatest shrines to freedom, great writing blends with great heart and great architecture to achieve

perfection. in this temple, in this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union, the memory of abraham lincoln is enshrined forever. thank you. [applause] >> okay, we are going to have felicia curry come back and sing another song. she will be followed up by a song from the president's own marine band, and i think you will recognize both of these. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

[applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause]

>> i hope everybody here

recognized first a that felicia

curry sang as america. although most of us probably know it as my country,'tis of the. and the battle hymn of the republic. we will hear, again, from the marine bass band after we've finished. so, when they play out you can thank them, but, that will be time for you to get up and leave. but, we are almost finished, i know everybody is sitting out here, it is very hot and we have had the luck of having the sun come out just in time for the beginning of our program. we have heard some words from lincoln today, and stephen lang's powerful presentation of the words that are etched into the building behind us, but i figure we will close with just a few more of abraham lincoln's words that i have adapted from his december 1862 annual

message to congress. this is, effectively, a state of the union. he wrote this, it was written, not spoken, written a month before he signed into law the final emancipation proclamation. and, in a sense, it is a call to action. we can succeed only by concert. it is not can any of us imagine better, but, can we all do better? the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the stormy present. the occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with that

occasion. as our case is new, so must we think anew and act anew. we must disenthrall ourselves and then we shall save our country. fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. we will be remembered in spite of ourselves. the fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. we say we are for the union, the world will not forget that we say this. with our actions, we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last, best hope of earth. now, i want to thank all of our participants. the president's own united states marine band brass quintet, the national park director, jeffrey, dr. sarah johnson, dr. edna greene, dr. charlotte morris, dr. frank smith, felicia curry, and stephen lang. please give a big round of applause to our participants. [applause] i also want to thank our organizers

and contributors, starting with the national park service, and its director, chuck sands. i especially want to personally thank jamie boyle of the national park service for making all of this possible, and doing her best to make my job easier. she is in the back, there, if you want to wave. [applause] we have to thank the lincoln forum for cosponsoring this event with us. especially its chairman, harold holder. [applause] i want to thank roberta who could not be with us today, but, who provided much of the underwriting for the program today. [applause] and, as president of the lincoln group of the district of columbia, i would probably

be stoned if i did not thank all of the board, all of the members, and all of the volunteers of the lincoln group of the district of columbia, who have worked tirelessly over the last year to help bring this program to you today. please thank them. [applause] finally, i want to thank all of you in the audience today. you have all participated in a one-of-a-kind event that we literally waited 100 years to do, just so all of you could be present. [laughs] so i want to thank all of you, i want to thank the tuskegee alumni for coming here, and robert -- descendants for being here.

this is washington, and in washington, everyone is always looking for a chance for a photo op. so, what we are going to do, is we are going to gather our speakers and performers, and our special guests, and line up on the steps behind me, and everyone in the audience, anyone you can pull out of the reflecting pool, anyone you want to bring, go up behind us, went up on the steps and we will get a front grand photo and put it on the website. and you can download it and share it with all of your friends, and tell everybody how you were here for this one time event. so, thank you all and please join us behind us, a round of applause, one more time, for the president's own marine band. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪

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