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 Rev. Byron Williams reads the Gettysburg Address as Fr. Bill Scafidi and members of the Orange Blossoms look on.
 Mr. Lincoln’s 200th birthday cake
 Orange Blossom re-enactors fire a salute volley over Newburgh’s Lincoln Memorial.
The Lincoln Bicentennial Memorial Committee of Newburgh would like to thank all those who turned out on Saturday, February 7, to hear Professor John Stauffer of Harvard University speak at the Newburgh Free Library. Professor Stauffer sends his deepest regrets for not being able to attend due to flight difficulties out of Boston. He hopes to have another opportunity to visit Newburgh in the future, but for now would like to share with readers the remarks he prepared to deliver in person at our memorable "Lincoln Day" festivities.
Lincoln's Legacy on Race, Freedom & Equality (pdf)
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February 7, 2009, was “Lincoln Day” in the City of Newburgh. The day’s commemoration of the 200th birthday of America’s 16th president began with a film showing of the 1930 D.W. Griffith film, “Abraham Lincoln” at the Downing Film Center on Front Street. A Lincoln lecture by Newburgh Lincoln Bicentennial Memorial Committee co-chair Kevin Burke followed at the Newburgh Free Library. Burke filled in for Professor John Stauffer of Harvard University, whose flight was held up in Boston due to mechanical difficulties.
At 3 pm, a dedication ceremony was held at the memorial site at the park at the intersection of Nicoll and Forsythe Place and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Fr. Bill Scafidi of St. Mary’s Church offered a benediction, and the Orange Blossom Civil War reenactors fired a salute volley over the monument. Rev. Byron Williams, president of the Christian Ministerial Association and the NAACP, recited the Gettysburg Address.
Following the dedication, events continued at the Karpeles Museum. Mayor Nicholas Valentine read a proclamation declaring Feb. 7, 2009 as “Lincoln Day” in the City of Newburgh. Kevin Burke read a proclamation for Newburgh’s Lincoln Day Commemoration on behalf of Governor Paterson. A special Lincoln’s birthday cake provided by Deputy Mayor Regina Angelo was enjoyed by all.
The Lincoln monument was a special gift to the City, and the plaque on it was donated by Deputy Mayor Angelo, Kevin Burke and Brian Denniston. Mayor Valentine awarded Certificates of Recognition on behalf of the City Council to Jack Saffioti of Giacomo Monuments, Dick Polich, Tallix/Polich, Cutrone Sand and Gravel, and Dan Howard of Tilcon, N.Y. Trap Rock for helping to make this project possible.
The monument is in memory of Mike Maione, a former editor of the Sentinel newspaper and a historian of Fords Theater. Mike Maione was also appointed to the National Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The Newburgh Project was designated as one of America’s official Bicentennial commemorations of Lincoln’s Birthday by Executive Director Michael Bishop of the National Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
The City of Newburgh Lincoln Memorial Committee members are Kevin Burke and Ed McCarthy, co-chairs, Fr. Bill Scafidi, Sentinel publisher Everett Smith, Deputy Mayor Regina Angelo, Brian Denniston, Pam Krizek, and Yakov Sullivan. |
