Lincoln’s legacy: ‘change and hope’

The leaders of The American Legion Family joined dignitaries and department leaders from several Midwestern states Feb. 12 during the 85th annual pilgrimage to President Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield, Ill.

National Commander Brett P. Reistad pointed out that even though his Legion cap identifies his department as Virginia, times have changed for the better due to the president who saved the union.

“My how times have changed,” Reistad said at the observance held on Lincoln’s 210th birthday. “And they changed for the better, largely because of the president entombed just a few feet from us.

“At the start of his presidency, it was legal in half the country for one race to own members of another. Americans were divided as to whether the United States was a nation or merely a loose federation of independent states. Upon his election, the United States was already on the verge of its bloodiest war – a tragedy that would come to a merciful end in the last days of Lincoln’s life – an important outcome thanks in large part to his unwavering leadership.”

A month after swearing in as the new governor of Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker also paid tribute to Springfield’s most famous son. “I pledge to pay close attention to Lincoln’s legacy of action and his legacy of compassion,” Pritzker said at the pilgrimage. “To lead a state government guided by the pursuit of justice that recognizes that the goodness of those whose views may differ from mine is worthwhile to listen to and take heed to. And I pledge that I will move forward following Lincoln’s legacy of intellect and empathy. May we all find within ourselves the courage and the kindness that is Abraham Lincoln’s legacy.

Bob Wesley, a Legionnaire from American Legion Post 32 in Springfield, was the host of the gathering. “Today, we celebrate Mr. Lincoln’s birthday and commemorate his central role in building America,” he said. “Mr. Lincoln and his veterans freed millions from slavery, thus purging an ugly, cruel and inhumane blot on our national character, and preserved the union. ‘Freedom is not free.’ No one here will question the hard truth and painful memories evoked by these four words. As was true during Mr. Lincoln’s time and throughout our nation’s history. We are blessed with young men and women who step forward, take up arms, and risk, all too often, giving their lives to preserve our freedoms.”

Sons of the American Legion National Commander Gregg Gibbs evoked Lincoln’s promise from his second inaugural address as a reminder to what is owed to the families of the fallen. “’To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan…’ Had President Lincoln not said it first, it certainly could be deemed the motto of The American Legion today,” Gibbs said.

National President Kathy Dungan of the American Legion Auxiliary reflected on a less famous Lincoln quote. “At the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made it very clear that he believed it was every citizen’s duty to immediately begin caring for the remaining soldiers and their families. In fact, he was quoted as saying, ‘you cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today,’” she said. “Lincoln’s call to action delivered over 150 years ago is alive and well in the American Legion Auxiliary’s mission to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of veterans, military and their families.”

Reistad, a retired police lieutenant, pointed to the progress society has made in the area of civil rights since Lincoln’s time but still acknowledged that work remains. “I believe the victory that most in the law enforcement and civil rights communities both seek today is a safe society where all people are treaty equally – where police officers and civilians of every race treat each other with mutual respect,” he said.

But still, Reistad said, Lincoln’s life should offer hope for America. “People often underestimated the country lawyer from Springfield, Illinois. They were wrong to do so,” Reistad said. “And people would be just as wrong to underestimate what America could accomplish today.”

Click here to see video of National Commander Brett Reistad's speech.