Historical Society plans ceremony for May 18
The Burlington Historical Society, in conjunction with the City of Burlington, will host a program on Sunday, May 18, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Burlington’s statue of Abraham Lincoln delivering his Second Inaugural Address.
The program is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the statue at State and Kane streets in Burlington. Some seating will be provided, but attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Steven K. Rogstad, a nationally known Lincoln scholar and member of the Wisconsin Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, will be the keynote speaker.
The one-of-a-kind statue, sculpted by George Etienne Ganiere, was donated to Burlington by one of its native sons, Dr. Francis W. Meinhardt.
The statue was unveiled in an impressive ceremony in October 1913, according to Don VandeSand of the Burlington Historical Society.
Rogstad, who will deliver the ceremony address, is a Racine native who, since age 6, has studied the life of Lincoln.
He has taught seminars and courses on Lincoln at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Carroll College, and at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha.
Rogstad has served as secretary and editor for the Lincoln Fellowship of Wisconsin and as review editor for the Lincoln Herald, a journal published by Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. He has also authored numerous reviews, articles, and other pieces related to his Lincoln research.
Appointed to the Wisconsin Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in April 2008, Rogstad serves as the Commission’s Secretary and is a member of its Memorials and Markers Committee.
Rogstad has written about the Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln Monument in Racine’s East Park, and in 1993 delivered the re-dedication address for that monument. To help celebrate Racine’s sesquicentennial in 1998, Rogstad established the Lincoln Monument Restoration Project, which restored Racine’s statue of Abraham Lincoln at State and Hamilton streets.
Refreshments will be available following the program.
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