House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	October 29, 2013 10:59 AM
From:	Representative Madeleine Dean
To:	All House members
Subject:	Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address

In the near future, I will introduce a resolution commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. On November 19, 1863, over 15,000 gathered to hear Edward Everett and President Abraham Lincoln formally dedicate the Soldiers’ National Cemetery on the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. What followed has been described as one of the most important pieces of oratory in American history. The Gettysburg Address – a speech of just 272 words and two minutes in length – is remarkable not only for its simplicity, but for its reassertion of the principle of equality for all Americans. For the first time, a President of the United States looked to the Declaration of Independence, as opposed to the Constitution, and emphasized that the Founders believed all men were created equal. President Lincoln helped to guide a new school of thought on American government when he asserted that the United States was guided by “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. I believe it is important that we commemorate this important event in American history that took place here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation.
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Introduced as HR556