East Central Reporter

On November 19, 1863, a dedication ceremony took place at the Gettysburg Soldiers' National Cemetery. The keynote speaker for the event was Edward Everett, a renowned orator and former U.S. Senator, who delivered a two-hour, 13,000-word monologue. However, history remembers Everett's speech as merely an opening act for the most memorable and stirring speech in American history.

President Abraham Lincoln, who had been invited to Gettysburg as an afterthought, delivered a two-minute, 271-word speech that was initially seen by some as a failure. In his remarks, Lincoln reflected on the nation's founding and the immense challenge it currently faced. He spoke about the significance of dedicating the cemetery but also acknowledged the futility of attempting to further sanctify the ground already hallowed by those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. Lincoln expressed his unwavering determination to complete the work for which the fallen soldiers had given their lives, in order to ensure the rebirth of a better nation and the endurance of our unique system of self-government.

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here," Lincoln stated. "But it can never forget what they did here."

The reaction from the crowd was initially met with silence, followed by scattered applause. Accounts vary as to why the audience did not immediately respond. Some speculate that they were so deeply moved by Lincoln's words that they were rendered speechless. Others suggest that they were caught off guard by the brevity of the speech. And there are those who believed that Lincoln's remarks had fallen short of expectations.

However, as we commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, it is widely recognized as one of the greatest Presidential speeches in our nation's history. Today, we honor this famous speech and reflect on the enduring legacy of Illinois' favorite son, President Abraham Lincoln.

To learn more about the Gettysburg Address and its significance, visit the official website of President Lincoln's home state of Illinois at [https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/visit/whats-inside/exhibits/online-exhibits/gettysburg-address-everett-copy/](https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/visit/whats-inside/exhibits/online-exhibits/gettysburg-address-everett-copy/).

To find out more, go to this link: https://rephalbrook.com/2023/11/19/gettysburg-160-years-ago-today/