Happy Bicentennial Birthday President Lincoln
Although he was born in relative obscurity in Kentucky, he is arguably one of the most important Presidents of our nation. The National Park Service preserves and manages several sites that are directly or indirectly related to the life and Presidency of Abraham Lincoln.
“During this Bicentennial year of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, I invite everyone to visit one of the national park sites that preserves and commemorates the life and achievements of this great President,” said Dan Wenk, acting Director of the National Park Service. “As a nation we celebrate the birth and achievements of this great American because of what he means to the nation, to the world, and to the many individuals that his life has inspired.”
Many events are planned throughout the nation in 2009 that will provide opportunities to celebrate the Bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. A visit to one of the National Park Service sites offers a great opportunity to learn and reflect about a man who served his country as president and gave his “last full measure of devotion” to preserve the United States. The National Park Service has developed a website, Celebrate the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's Birth, where you can see a list of the many special places that commemorate his life.
One of the sites on this list is our partner, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. If you are in the St. Louis metro area, why not start the celebration of this Bicentennial year with a visit this week? In his memoirs, Grant recalled his feelings at the time of Lincoln’s assassination:
“I knew his goodness of heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the people of the United States enter
again upon the full privileges of citizenship with equality among all.”
These two men shared the common goals of union and equality for the nation and its citizens. It is a great time of year to explore the museum and White Haven where this victorious Civil War general and our 18th President first met Julia Dent, his future wife.
