The 16^th President, portrayed by Howard Wright, joined Governor Rell to promote the upcoming events of the Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and unveil the group’s Web site: www.yale.edu/glc/lincoln/ .

Governor Rell established the 14-member commission with Executive Order No. 20 in July to plan and organize events for the two-year celebration surrounding the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.

“The hallmarks of his leadership continue to resonate with Americans,” Governor Rell said. “The Commission has done an outstanding job assembling events to pay tribute to Abraham Lincoln.”

The Commission is co-chaired by Wright, the only Connecticut-based member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, and Lincoln biographer Michael Burlingame, Professor Emeritus of History at Connecticut College.

Lincoln is credited with establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, today’s event also featured Wright reading Lincoln’s stirring 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation.

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in what was then Hardin County, Kentucky. During the 1860 presidential campaign he stumped in Connecticut, making stops in Bridgeport, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, New London and Norwich, and the Hartford Wide Awakes – an organization of young Republican men opposed to slavery – marched in his inaugural parade.

Lincoln’s visit through Connecticut is commemorated in one of the many events the Commission has planned with the 1860 Lincoln Lecture Tour that features the five cities in which he campaigned.

Other events include:

·Feb. 12, 2009 – Wadsworth Atheneum exhibit: “Lincoln: Man, Myth and Memories.”

· April 14, 2009 – Connecticut Historical Society lecture on authenticating flag used to decorate the presidential box at Ford’s Theater

·Three Civil War encampments, featuring Civil War regiments, living historians, authors – and President Lincoln

· Lincoln Essay Contest for middle and high school students

“There is something here for every member of the family as well as dedicated historians,” Governor Rell said. “I am confident that everyone will come away with an even greater appreciation of one of our nation’s greatest leaders. We can all benefit from studying the life of Abraham Lincoln.”

For more information: www.yale.edu/glc/lincoln/

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