Friday, May 16, 2008

A Word or Two from Abe and Little Man A

This week my Mom and I took a quick trip to visit with Little Man A and his mom and dad. And they took us to see some sites in nearby D.C.


I've wanted to see the Lincoln Memorial for many years and finally made it happen.


And if you haven't read the Gettysburg Address lately, let me just say, it's worth returning to it. Reading it now it makes a much greater impression than the required reading in middle school.


"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal
.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here 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—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.


After our passage through the Lincoln, Korean, World Wars I and II Memorials, and a quick trip to the Smithsonian, we headed back to Little Man A's place and spent quality time with our dear great-nephew/great-grandson.
Little Man A decided mud-pies would be the best dessert for such a wonderful day.


As always, he was right.

6 comments:

KiKi said...

Hope you indulged in some of those mud pies... zero calories, does wonders for your skin, and also a great colon cleanse.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Very much on my list of places to visit. Glad you had fun.

A's Mom said...

Glad you had a great time! And I totally plan on using the phrase "dirty bubble juice!"

Stephanie said...

It's been a long time since I've been there, thanks for the reminder.

Kiki, thanks for the plug for mud pies and their health benefits. I think I'll have to indulge later. The pic made it look so very appetizing, too! :)

Anonymous said...

I would love to visit there, someday.

When I was in high school I went to a very small Christian school. One of the things I had to do for History/Social Studies was memorize the Gettysburg Address in its entirety. I was surprised that I still remembered so much of it after 28 years. It is an excellent piece of writing!

And the mud pies, looks like a lot of fun was had by all. Thanks for sharing these special moments of your life with us.

Jude said...

what a beautiful smile!