By McLean County Times |
Nov 19, 2023
On November 19, 1863, a dedication ceremony took place at the Gettysburg Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The keynote speaker was Edward Everett, a renowned orator and former U.S. Senator. However, his two-hour, 13,000-word speech would soon be overshadowed by the words of President Abraham Lincoln.Lincoln's invitation to Gettysburg was an afterthought, and his speech, initially perceived as a failure, would go on to become one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in American history. In just two minutes and 271 words, Lincoln eloquently encapsulated the nation's...