Editor's note: The following report was posted late on Monday. A report was received this morning that the event has been canceled due to an ice storm that is passing over the area.
The NPS Eastern Incident Management Team is in Hodgenville,, Kentucky this week to assist staff at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHS in preparing to host today’s Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial inaugural celebration.
First Lady Laura Bush is scheduled to deliver the keynote address formally launching the nation’s two-year celebration of Lincoln’s life and legacy.
Media and community interest has been high. Nearly 50 local and national media outlets have applied to receive credentials. C-SPAN 3 will produce a live broadcast of the outdoor event that begins at 10:30 a.m. EST. Strong partnership with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, particularly the Kentucky Historical Society, has led to the setup and staffing of two media centers and a toll-free information hotline. Park staff, volunteers, and public information officers from various Kentucky state agencies are staffing the centers.
Although the park was closed to set-up for the event, a “media day” walkthrough was held yesterday. Eleven subject matter experts were onsite from several Lincoln related parks, as well as from the Kentucky Historical Society and the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, to provide background information and in-depth interviews.
The IMT, led by Zeph Cunningham, has been working closely with the Director’s Office, as well as with staff at the Southeast and Midwest Regional Offices, Harper’s Ferry Center, and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts to coordinate the event. Expertise and support from employees at nearby Mammoth Cave National Park have proved to be invaluable. The Southeast Region Special Events Team is assisting with site security and logistics for the White House visit.
The inaugural ceremony at the park is one of many special events held throughout Kentucky this week. For more information about the event, visit www.nps.gov/abli
