Why does Lincoln still matter?

[RJNorton]

Good morning, Bill. Thank you for sharing such a terrific story!

[LincolnMan]

Oh, and by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABRAHAM LINCOLN!

When she was little, my daughter, Beth, thought it was pretty special that she always got her birthday - February 12th - off school. She was the only one in the family lucky enough to have a birth day for their birthday though. Martin Luther King was killed on my birthday - April 4th. My son, Jamie, was born on November 22nd - the day John F Kennedy was shot. And his sons, my Ayden and Bryant, were born on April 15th - the day Abraham Lincoln died.

"Anybody here ... " remember that old song, "Abraham Martin and John?

Dawn: that is amazing. Do you think the birthdays as such had any negative impact on them?

[HerbS]

WOW-Thanks for sharing-

[Hess1865]

Oh, and by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABRAHAM LINCOLN!

When she was little, my daughter, Beth, thought it was pretty special that she always got her birthday - February 12th - off school. She was the only one in the family lucky enough to have a birth day for their birthday though. Martin Luther King was killed on my birthday - April 4th. My son, Jamie, was born on November 22nd - the day John F Kennedy was shot. And his sons, my Ayden and Bryant, were born on April 15th - the day Abraham Lincoln died.

"Anybody here ... " remember that old song, "Abraham Martin and John?

I was born on the same day as Yoko Ono......

[LincolnMan]

You must be a Beatles fan.

[Dawn E Foster]

Dawn: that is amazing. Do you think the birthdays as such had any negative impact on them?

The boys are only four - they only know who Abraham Lincoln is from wanting to look at the pictures in the books their Grammy is always reading, and that he's the guy on the pennies (and in the Gumby episodes, of course). I saw a couple of cool Lincoln books at our school book fair this year that I plan to buy them when they're a little bit older.

My son, it's hard to say - this was a kid who already knew by the time he was in kindergarten that he was going to be a Marine (we should have been able to tell by his yearly school pictures - he already had the look down). But, seriously, I don't think it ever even occurred to him.

[LincolnMan]

Dawn: is your one son a Marine? You must be very proud of him!
I don't remember anything "Lincoln" in Gumby episodes!

[Hess1865]

You must be a Beatles fan.

Far from it!!!
I'm an die-hard Rolling Stones fan!
The Beatles were great, but the Stones are better!!

[LincolnMan]

What's that old saying-something like "the Beatles come to play your town and the Stones to wreck it?"

[Dawn E Foster]

Dawn: is your one son a Marine? You must be very proud of him!
I don't remember anything "Lincoln" in Gumby episodes!

Bill, I am blessed with one daughter, one son, and twin grandsons (and one brother) (though a granddaughter would sure be nice ... ). And yes, my son was - or I should probably say is - a Marine ("Once a Marine, always a Marine"), as was my father, my uncle (a DI on Parris Island), and my nephew.

I guess maybe with all this talk of birthdays I should mention that today would have been my mother's birthday. She was the one who first taught me to love history and biographies and Abraham Lincoln - her favorite president!

I believe there were several Gumby episodes which guest-starred Abraham Lincoln, as well as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, etc - usually in the pages of a book they had just walked right into. God, I always wished I could do that!!!

[L Verge]

Dawn,

Mike Kauffman's father was also a DI at Parris Island during one TDY. Ironically, he now is a professional Santa Claus at Christmas during his retirement years.

[LincolnMan]

Lincoln still matters because he continues to represent that anyone in America has an opportunity for upward mobility-he was the prime example of it in his today-and he was aware of it. How did he believe it possible? The Declaration of Independence.

[LincolnMan]

Forum member Fred Priebe gave a wonderful presentation (as President Lincoln) for our Memorial Day observance in Birmingham, Michigan. What really struck me was how audience members came up to him after it was over to have a few words with him- as Lincoln-it seemed to me. Does Lincoln still matter? My eyes and ears informed me once again that he sure does. Great job, Fred- Mr. Lincoln.

[L Verge]

I think the Abraham Lincoln Presenters are so vital to keeping Lincoln and his era's history alive in this day and age. My hat is off to people like Fred who can make history come alive for so many.

[Joe Di Cola]

What's that old saying-something like "the Beatles come to play your town and the Stones to wreck it?"

Bill,

While the Stones have had lasting power because they stayed together, their music never "evolved" like to Beatles' music did--which made the Beatles more lasting in the impression they have had on music in general. Lennon and McCartney were geniuses. So, I liked your quip.

Joe