Of, By, and For the People:

On this day in 1863, the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg occurred. So, today, let's think about this.

A few days ago I mentioned that during the 38-year reign of British King Henry VIII, approximately 72,000 people were executed for political /religious reasons. That seems like a tremendous number of souls. Especially given the methods of execution used back then.
Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were killed in the 3-day Battle of Gettysburg. Amazing. The town of Gettysburg held only 2400 residents. It was up to these residents to bury the dead. And burn the 3000 or so dead horses also lying in the summer sun. The people of Gettysburg received quick authorization to purchase 17 acres, and commenced burial of the fallen soldiers.

Four months later, in November, the dedication of Soldiers' National Cemetery was attended by some 15,000 people. The program for the dedication included music by the Marine band, and two speeches. One was given by Edward Everett, a man who had served as Secretary of State, as State Senator, Governor, and in other political offices. His speech lasted two hours. The speech that followed Everett's was given by, as we all know, President Abraham Lincoln. His Gettysburg Address lasted only 2-3 minutes. I'll bet the 4th and 5th graders of this nation are grateful that Lincoln's Gettysburg address is the one deemed more meaningful of the two, since most students (at last our three!) have been required to memorize that succinct speech while in grade 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."