Friday, Feb 16, 2007
On February 10th, the park, in cooperation with Eastern National Bookstores, hosted a statewide bicentennial public speaking contest for high school students. In an effort to generate public awareness and interest in the Lincoln Bicentennial as the nation prepares to remember and honor our 16th President, Kentucky high school students developed, organized, and communicated ideas relating to the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. Ava Nell Ray of Eastern National served as a judge during the contest. She also donated cash prizes of $300, $200, and $100 for the first, second, and third place finalists on behalf of Eastern.
Ava Nell Ray of Eastern National presented the cash awards and recognized all of the contestants at the Lincoln Days Commemorative luncheon on Lincoln’s Birthday on Monday, February 12th. Samantha Adams, the first place finisher, delivered an encore performance of her speech – an overview of how Abraham Lincoln’s early years growing up in Kentucky affected his later life, especially in regards to education and learning.
After the luncheon, Cliff and Joan Howard, dressed as President Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, led a procession to the Memorial Building marking the place where Abraham Lincoln was born. The top three finalists from the high school public speaking contest, Samantha Adams, Martha Williams, and Lacy Harris, placed a wreath in front of the log cabin honoring Abraham Lincoln’s birth at Sinking Spring Farm. Park visitors, Eastern National employees, National Park Service employees, and schoolchildren sang “Happy Birthday” to the President. Joan Howard, in a first-person interpretation of Mary Todd Lincoln, closed the ceremony with a beautiful a cappella rendition of “God Bless America.” Visitors enjoyed birthday cake and punch after the ceremony.
On February 12, 2008, the nation will begin a two-year celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site will host the kick-off event.
|
