BY MARK SCOLFORO
James Getty, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, stands before a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. Getty is scheduled to deliver the Gettysburg Address at Tuesday’s ceremony. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
Bryce Stenzel of Mankato Minn., dressed as Abraham Lincoln, arrives before a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered here nearly five months after the pivotal battle which was the Civil War’s bloodiest conflict, with more than 51,000 casualties. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
James Getty, Tom Corbett
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, right, speaks with James Getty, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, before a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. Getty is scheduled to deliver the Gettysburg Address at Tuesday’s ceremony. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by presenter Robert Costello, center, accompanied by David Wills, who is portrayed by presenter Joe Mieczkowski, tips his hat Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at the Gettysburg Train Station in Gettysburg, Pa. Tuesday, Nov. 19, marks the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
James McPherson
Historian James McPherson speaks during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Antonin Scalia
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia administers the oath of allegiance to new citizens, during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. Photo/Matt Rourke)
Sally Jewell
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell speaks during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Antonin Scalia
A new citizen waves a flag after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia administered the oath of allegiance, during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
James Getty
James Getty, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, recites the Gettysburg Address during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and the historic speech, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
James Getty
James Getty, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, recites the Gettysburg Address during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and the historic speech, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
James Getty
James Getty, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, pauses before a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. Getty is scheduled to deliver the Gettysburg Address at Tuesday’s ceremony. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
James Getty
James Getty, portraying President Abraham Lincoln, recites the Gettysburg Address during a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and the historic speech, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Lincoln’s speech was first delivered in Gettysburg nearly five months after the major battle that left tens of thousands of men wounded, dead or missing. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
A workmen makes preparations for a ceremony at Soldiers’ National Cemetery, Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Tuesday, Nov. 19, marks the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
A runner passes through Gettysburg National Military Park, Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Nov. 19th marks the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by presenter Robert Costello, speaks Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at the Gettysburg Train Station in Gettysburg, Pa. Tuesday, Nov. 19, marks the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by presenter Robert Costello, left, accompanied by David Wills, portrayed by presenter Joe Mieczkowski, walks past a theater marquee with Lincoln on it, Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at the Gettysburg Train Station in Gettysburg, Pa. Tuesday, Nov. 19, marks the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
A family descends the steps of the Pennsylvania monument at the Gettysburg National Military Park, Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, in Gettysburg, Pa. Nov. 19th marks the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gettysburg Address Anniversary
President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by presenter Robert Costello is greeted Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at the Gettysburg Train Station in Gettysburg, Pa. Tuesday, Nov. 19, marks the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s short speech that has gone on to symbolize his presidency and explain the sacrifices made by Union and Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — In solemnity, thousands gathered on a central Pennsylvania battlefield park Tuesday to honor a speech given 150 years ago that President Abraham Lincoln predicted would not be long remembered.
The inspirational and famously short Gettysburg Address was praised for reinvigorating national ideals of freedom, liberty and justice amid a Civil War that had torn the country into pieces.
“President Lincoln sought to heal a nation’s wounds by defining what a nation should be,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, calling Lincoln’s words superb, his faith deep and his genius profound. “Lincoln wrote his words on paper, but he also inscribed them in our hearts.”
Echoing Lincoln, keynote speaker and Civil War historian James McPherson said the president took the dais in November 1863 at a time when it looked like the nation “might indeed perish from the earth.”
“The Battle of Gettysburg became the hinge of fate on which turned the destiny of that nation and its new birth of freedom,” McPherson.
In the July 1863 battle, considered the turning point of the war, federal forces turned back a Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania. Lincoln’s speech was delivered more than four months later, at the dedication of a national cemetery to bury the battle’s casualties.
In the short oration, he spoke of how democracy itself rested upon “the proposition that all men are created equal,” a profound and politically risky statement for the time. Slavery and the doctrine of states’ rights would not hold in the “more perfect union” of Lincoln’s vision.
“In 272 words he put together what everyone was thinking, what everyone should know,” said park historian John Heiser.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia administered the oath of allegiance to a group of 16 immigrants, telling them the national identity is unique, illustrated by the existence of the word “un-American” and by the people’s “fidelity to certain political principles.”
Greta Myer, 44, decided to make the six-hour trip from Akron, Ohio, with her husband and son after spending a week in Gettysburg earlier in the year.
“It’s something we’ve never done before,” Myer said. “It was a historical event that we wanted to be a part of.”
Among many re-enactors on the grounds were at least two Abraham Lincolns, including one who recited the address.
“Lincoln would have been surprised by the reverence accorded to him by future generations,” McPherson said, noting Lincoln himself held in high regard the country’s founders.
He said the Gettysburg Address, despite its brevity, managed to weave together themes of past, present and future; continent, nation and battlefield; and birth, death and rebirth.
“Men died that the nation might live,” McPherson said. “Yet the old nation also died,” and with it, a system of bondage that enslaved some 4 million Americans.
