Legion Family vows to keep Lincoln’s promise
American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett led a contingent of Legion Family leaders and government officials to the tomb of President Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Ill., on Feb. 12 during Post 32's 82nd annual pilgrimage.
“During a presidential election year such as this, it is easy to get dismayed at the enormous problems facing the world,” Barnett said during observances marking the 207th birthday of the 16th president. “In an attempt to convince us that they have the answers, candidates often paint the bleakest picture they can of the state of our nation. Economic hardships, terrorism, crime and natural disasters are just a few of the topics that we hear about every day in the news. I am in no way saying that these challenges are not serious and real, but think of what Abraham Lincoln faced during his presidency.”
After pointing out that Lincoln preserved the union and led the nation during the bloodiest war in its history, Barnett said, “We should always be grateful that in America’s toughest hour, our Republic produced our greatest president.”
The significance of The American Legion’s role in honoring Lincoln was not lost on U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who spoke at the ceremony. “As we celebrate the anniversary of his birthday today, we also recognize our hosts, The American Legion and the sacrifices of our servicemembers, veterans and their families,” Durbin said. “Lincoln himself was a veteran of war. And his experience as a veteran is characterized as having left a deep and permanent impression on him.”
Post 32 Legionnaire Robert Wesley, who served as the master of ceremonies, reflected on Lincoln’s legacy. “Today we celebrate Mr. Lincoln’s birthday and remember his place in building America. Mr. Lincoln freed millions from slavery, thus purging an ugly, cruel and inhumane blot from our national character. And, he preserved the union. It is fitting that we should today remember that the nation he did so much to save is still the land of the free, the home of the brave and freedom’s beacon in a troubled world.”
The ceremony was especially meaningful to Illinois native and Auxiliary National President Sharon Conatser. “I follow in the footsteps of Lincoln by never letting the world forget that our veterans and servicemembers are to be honored – in fact, my president’s pin reads, ‘Keeping the Promise,'" Conatser said. “It is because of these great men and women that we are able to live free in this great nation. Lincoln stated this indisputable fact most movingly in dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg when he said, ‘We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.'"
During an afternoon luncheon, Barnett continued the theme by comparing the accountability that President Lincoln insisted on from his Union generals, to the lack of accountability that veterans are experiencing at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Can you imagine how much better this country could be if we insisted that the VA be run with Lincoln-like accountability?” Barnett asked. “If veterans and their families were treated with the same level of compassion that Lincoln felt for his soldiers? Can you imagine what Lincoln would have thought at the October 10 congressional hearing when five key VA officials didn’t show up? I believe the people in this room get it. If we weren’t concerned about and compassionate toward veterans, we would not be members of The American Legion Family.”
Illinois Department Commander Paul W. Gardner reminded guests that the United States still has not completely fulfilled Lincoln’s promise to “care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.”
“There should never be a veteran, who served this country, living in a street anywhere,” he said. “There are still people suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) that still haven’t been taken care of. We need to do that. It’s our charge.”