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Angela · (This post was last modified: 11-24-2017 02:28 PM by Angela.)

I just wanted to send a quick note about the recent Symposium in Gettysburg.
It was - as always - a wonderful affair with great speakers and many new books introduced.
Of course, this years highlight was Ron Chernow and his new biography on Grant...he DID have to answer quite a few questions on why he focused on certain, not so well liked, traits that Grant possessed. Mr. Chernow handled it beautifully and professionally!

Also, there were foreign visitors from not only Canada but also France - the latter offering a booklet on a "Lincoln" picture that was...interesting.

Not just one but TWO student recipients of scholarships in the past have returned, one of them has joined the board of advisors and both of them are now lifetime members! I thought that pretty impressive!
@Laurie - you will remember introducing Michaela to me last year; we have become close friends over time.

There were midnight sessions on canon operation led by battlefield experts that left visiting tourists stunned and parties where serious exchange und light fun were in perfect balance.

Dedication day was - as always - the coldest day anyone could ever imagine and Harold Holzer's speech on the recent statue debate was a milestone.

There is a beautiful new memorial to the late Jim Getty and while I only was lucky to see him once, I do believe it does him right.
I have wholeheartedly embraced Mr. Buss as the new Abraham Lincoln, who continues the tradition of touching people's hearts with the way he moves and talks and interacts.

I had a wonderful time and am already counting the days until Nov. 16 2018!

(some of the pictures look a little strange in the preview but show up ok if you click on them - at least they do for me)

Thomas Kearney · (This post was last modified: 11-24-2017 02:34 PM by Thomas Kearney.)

Thanks for sharing Angela. Sorry I couldn't make it. Someday I'll put some time into my schedule to come to the best small town in America (sorry Keystone, SD. You'll get that title when I have my Summer White House there).

Angela · 11-24-2017, 02:41 PM

(11-24-2017 02:32 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote: Thanks for sharing Angela. Sorry I couldn't make it. Someday I'll put some time into my schedule to come to the best small town in America (sorry Keystone, SD. You'll get that title when I have my Summer White House there).

Thomas, you would really enjoy it! It is very much worth the time - and I say that traveling a little over 4.000 miles to attend ;-)

RJNorton · 11-24-2017, 04:28 PM

Angela, thank you for posting about the Lincoln Forum Symposium. I hope your cats got along fine while you were gone. I am curious - which picture of Lincoln did the person from France have a booklet on? What stand did Harold Holzer take on the statue debate and what was his reasoning?

L Verge · 11-24-2017, 08:25 PM

I am so glad that you and Michaela have formed a friendship. Is that one photo of the two of you? I would also like to know Harold's position on the statue debate. Nice to see our friend Scott Schroeder in several of the photos.

I do miss going to the Forum, but the sheer size of the hotel and the crowd is too much for my wobbly legs now.

Speaking of symposiums, the information packet on the 19th annual Surratt conference has been mailed to all Society members. The event is open to all, so if anyone on this forum would like a packet mailed to them, please email me your name and address at laurie.verge@pgparks.com

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 11-24-2017 08:43 PM by Eva Elisabeth.)

Thank you for once more taking me (us) on a virtual tour and let us participate. I so wish I could have (despite the cold day and lack of such festive attire). Great photos and nice to see Scott!
I, too, am curious as for which Lincoln photo!

Angela · 11-25-2017, 02:23 AM

@Eva - we need you to be a part of this as soon as your time allows for extensive travel again! You would simply love the interactive events and the variety of the whole thing!

@Laurie: Yes indeed, that's us. Michaela is on the left and we had such a fun time.

@roger: The full speech Harold Holzer gave is HERE and what impressed me most was the fact that he did not shy away from the most controversial issues and still managed to reach out to everybody involved without condemning either viewpoint.

The picture booklet I was referring to is from a gentleman named Serge Plantureux and the photograph he thinks is Lincoln looks more like me or you or anybody than him to be honest.
I have not located it in my papers yet which angers me a lot. I was certain I had brought it back. I will try to get my hands on another copy and post it here!

Thomas Kearney · 11-25-2017, 10:56 AM

(11-24-2017 02:41 PM)Angela Wrote:
(11-24-2017 02:32 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote: Thanks for sharing Angela. Sorry I couldn't make it. Someday I'll put some time into my schedule to come to the best small town in America (sorry Keystone, SD. You'll get that title when I have my Summer White House there).

Thomas, you would really enjoy it! It is very much worth the time - and I say that traveling a little over 4.000 miles to attend ;-)

I live 90 minutes away

L Verge · (This post was last modified: 11-25-2017 07:12 PM by L Verge.)

To me, Harold gave a very eloquent speech on the statue debate, offering a common sense approach as quite a few others have over the past few months. Respect the artistic beauty of the majority of them, understand the full history behind them, and make them teach future generations that history.

I especially appreciated the way that he cited a variety of examples from countries other than the U.S. who have dealt with statues commemorating other difficult times in history. Throughout this entire "unpleasantness," I have thought about the European incidents in the 1930s and the more recent destruction of centuries-old monuments and religious items in the Middle East. Do those who now espouse similar actions here related to our Civil War condone what went on/is going on in foreign lands? Have they really thought about what they are doing and what the final outcome could be?

Angela · 11-26-2017, 01:49 PM

@Thomas - 90 minutes? See, no more excuses!
@Laurie - I could not agree more. Harold Holzer did a wonderful thing with this speech!

Thomas Kearney · 11-26-2017, 04:56 PM

(11-26-2017 01:49 PM)Angela Wrote: @Thomas - 90 minutes? See, no more excuses!
@Laurie - I could not agree more. Harold Holzer did a wonderful thing with this speech!

Laurel Park is running. That's an exceptional excuse

Eva Elisabeth · 11-27-2017, 02:55 AM

(11-26-2017 04:56 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:
(11-26-2017 01:49 PM)Angela Wrote: @Thomas - 90 minutes? See, no more excuses!
@Laurie - I could not agree more. Harold Holzer did a wonderful thing with this speech!

Laurel Park is running. That's an exceptional excuse

What is that?

RJNorton · 11-27-2017, 04:43 AM

(11-27-2017 02:55 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: What is that?

Eva, it's a track where they have horse racing. Based on his previous posts and references, Thomas loves horse racing and would like to be an announcer at a race track someday. I think what Thomas is saying is that if he were to attend the Lincoln Forum Symposium he would have to miss the races at Laurel Park during those days. Thomas, please correct me if I interpreted you incorrectly.

Thomas Kearney · 11-27-2017, 12:28 PM

(11-27-2017 04:43 AM)RJNorton Wrote:
(11-27-2017 02:55 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: What is that?

Eva, it's a track where they have horse racing. Based on his previous posts and references, Thomas loves horse racing and would like to be an announcer at a race track someday. I think what Thomas is saying is that if he were to attend the Lincoln Forum Symposium he would have to miss the races at Laurel Park during those days. Thomas, please correct me if I interpreted you incorrectly.

That's correct. Just got a couple calls in Friday night at Rosecroft. Link and race calls in my bio.

L Verge · 11-27-2017, 01:16 PM

(11-27-2017 12:28 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:
(11-27-2017 04:43 AM)RJNorton Wrote:
(11-27-2017 02:55 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: What is that?

Eva, it's a track where they have horse racing. Based on his previous posts and references, Thomas loves horse racing and would like to be an announcer at a race track someday. I think what Thomas is saying is that if he were to attend the Lincoln Forum Symposium he would have to miss the races at Laurel Park during those days. Thomas, please correct me if I interpreted you incorrectly.

You're in my neighborhood now, Thomas. Do you call harness racing also?
That's correct. Just got a couple calls in Friday night at Rosecroft. Link and race calls in my bio.