Practice News Story #7: Speech

Posted: Nov. 20, 1863
Gettysburg, Penn.
On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln met on the battlefield at Gettysburg to dedicate the land to those who so bravely fought for our freedom. Lincoln made this monumental event an opportunity not only to dedicate the grounds of a cemetery, but also to consecrate the living in the struggle to ensure that the "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln gave the challenge and opportunity for everyone to make a difference, he said, “It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us here to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us… that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” The crowd went wild after hearing these motivating words. Lincoln spoke with a desire to not only to pay respect and gratitude to those who have died for the cause of freedom but to ensure that we continue to work in that struggle.