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147th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address

Published November 10, 2010

November 19th, 2010 marks the 147th anniversary of  the day that Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “Gettysburg Address.” Each year, Gettysburg holds a ceremony in honor of this special day called Dedication Day. In fact, The American Bus Association has named Dedication Day one of the Top 100 Events to attend in North America for 2010.

Photos of last year's Dedication Day events (couresty of Civil War Programs at Gettysburg College)

Sam Donaldson

Sam Donaldson, a correspondent for ABC news for 42 years, will be the Dedication Day keynote speaker this year. Read more about Sam Donaldson here.

Here is a listing of events for the day: (from the Gettysburg Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website).

Friday, November 19
*Note: November 19, the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, was formally designated as Dedication Day, by a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, on August 7, 1946.

10:15 a.m.   Wreath Laying Ceremony
Soldiers’ National Monument, Soldiers’ National Cemetery
Visitors can walk through the cemetery along the upper drive to reach the rostrum.
10:30 a.m.   147th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address Dedication Day Ceremony
Keynote speaker: Sam Donaldson, formerly of ABC News, and Chief White House Correspondent during the Carter, Reagan, and Clinton administrations
Rostrum, Soldiers’ National Cemetery
Event includes a Naturalization Ceremony, presented by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
11:15 a.m.   Colored Troops Graveside Salute
Speaker: Hari Jones, Curator of African American Civil War Museum, Washington DC
(Or immediately following the Dedication Day Ceremony)
12:00 p.m.    Lincoln Fellowship Luncheon
Keynote speaker: Author Thomas Craughwell will speak on his book: “Stealing Lincoln’s Body”, Gettysburg
(Fellowship members only; pre-registration is required; no phone reservations accepted. For information on becoming a member of the Lincoln Fellowship, visit us online at  www.gettysburg.edu/civilwar/institute, by phone 717-337-6590, or write to the Lincoln Fellowship, P.O. Box 3372, Gettysburg, PA,17325
4:00pm       Gettysburg Addresses Lincoln
Speaker: Jim Getty, “My Life as Abraham Lincoln”
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
7:30 p.m.     12th Annual Michael Shaara Prize for Excellence in Civil War fiction awarded by Jeff Shaara
Recipient: Cornelia Nixon, for her book Jarretsville (Counterpoint, 2009)
Majestic Theater
49th Annual Robert Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture
Speaker: Edward L. Ayers, President of the University of Richmond
Lecture: “Loyalty and American’s Civil War”
9:30 p.m.      Public Reception and Book Signing
Majestic Theater Lobby
Saturday, November 20 – Remembrance Day
1:00 p.m.      Remembrance Day Parade and Activities sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans, visit their website at www.suvcw.org
5:30 p.m.      Eighth Annual Remembrance Illumination
Soldiers’ National Cemetery hosted by the Gettysburg Foundation.

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