When President Abraham Lincoln learned of Union victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg in July 1863, he told a crowd it was providential that they had occurred around the nation's birthday. "Gentlemen," he added, "this is a glorious theme, and the occasion for a speech, but I am not prepared to make one worthy of the occasion." He found his occasion that fall at the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg/ By the time Lincoln left Washington, D.C. by train on November 18, he had substantially completed his speech, adding the final touches in Gettysburg. At the ceremony on November 19, Lincoln followed a widely praised tow-hour oration by Edward Everett, the principal speaker. Lincoln delivered his 272-word speech in a few minuted ad sat down, his brevity surprising the crowd, and scattered applause leaving him uncertain whether it had been "worthy of the occasion" after all. His supporters called it "thrilling" and his enemies thought it "silly." but subsequent generations of Americans have proclaimed the speech immortal.
We had the honor to stand among the dead brave souls in this cemetery and stood on the spot where
President Lincoln presented his Gettysburg Address.
The cemetery was far from completed by the day of dedication. withing a few years over 3,500 Union soldiers who had been killed in the battler were re interred here, and the landscaping completed. following the war the remains of 3,320 Confederate soldiers were removed from the battlefield to cemeteries in the South.
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Other US veterans, from the 1898 War with Spain to the Vietnam conflict, are also buried here. Today the cemetery
is the final resting place for over 6,000 veterans and their dependents. |
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Soldiers' National Monument
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