Thank you to all members of American Legion Post #32 Springfield Illinois for your commitment to hosting the “Annual Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Abraham Lincoln” every year since 1935 for President Lincoln’s birthday.
As we all celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary this year, we must take time to reflect on President Abraham Lincoln and how he helped shape the State of Illinois and the nation.
President Lincoln was one of the most prominent leaders in American history and is known for several key accomplishments. Before he was elected as the 16th President, the nation was divided, but he remained committed to healing the Union and preserving democracy.
From 1861 to 1865 during his presidency, Lincoln worked hard to keep the nation together and led the United States through the Civil war which resulted in the surrender of Confederate forces. But the most notable achievements from President Lincoln was in 1863, when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation in strong support of the 13th Amendment- which would permanently abolished slavery across the nation.
As President Lincoln traveled across states, he became famous for his powerful speeches- such as the Gettysburg Address, which would underscore democracy and equality. He spoke with integrity while expressing his vision for the nation. One of the most famous lines from the Gettysburg Address is that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.
His words hold truth and continue to inspire people across our nation and will for years to come.
Let today remind all of us that President Lincoln was an honest man who had the courage to speak the truth even if it was unpopular. He was a man who fought for freedom, lived with honesty, and stood for unity.
“My purpose is to be, in my action, just and constitutional; and yet practical, in performing the important duty, with which I am charged, of maintaining the unity, and the free principles of our common country.”
President Abraham Lincoln
