THE KICKOFF: Launch of the Lincoln Legacy: A Cincinnati Celebration of Freedom

On February 8th, 2008 the group of planning members of the Greater Cincinnati “Lincoln Legacy” project assembled for the Kickoff event to announce the beginning of their two-year celebration of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

The Kickoff event was planned around the rededication of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Cincinnati’s Lytle Park.

The event highlights included an opening and closing of cannon fire as Battery a, 1st Ohio Statehouse Light Artillery shot off two cannons to announce the start of the event and two cannons at the close of the event. Battery A, 1st Ohio Statehouse Light Artillery is a nonprofit volunteer educational organization of American Civil War reenactors based in Columbus.

Master of Ceremonies: Senator Richard H. Finan announced the purpose of the event as “Just as the cannon fire has shaken the Park, the Civil War shook Cincinnati, the country & indeed the world. Outcome may have been very different had Abraham Lincoln not been in the helm as President. Impact of this struggle continues to echo today. While the cause of freedom for which Abraham Lincoln tirelessly fought has advanced measurably in the decades since Lincoln achieved the abolition of slavery, there is an urgent need to recognize that the struggle persists”.
“The purpose of the Lincoln Legacy: A Cincinnati Celebration of Freedom is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, one of this country’s greatest Presidents, with 2 years of activities that will provide opportunities for the region’s citizens to rededicate themselves to the ideals for which Lincoln ultimately gave his life.”

A diverse alliance of Greater Cincinnati institutions has come together for the purpose of planning the region’s commemoration and celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s treasured legacy. Initial Planning Partners are Susan Howarth, Executive Director of Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation-CET; Gary Zola, Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, who is also serving on the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission; Caroline Van Deusen of Columbus, Ohio State Liaison for national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial; Ernest Britton, Chief Officer for Community Engagement at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; Kim Fender Executive Director of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Dan Hurley, Assistant Vice President for History and Research at the Cincinnati Museum Center; Joyce Kamen of Kamen Creative. Also assisting in the planning were the Ohio Historical Society, the Taft Museum of Art, and Guy La Jeunesse, Resource Development Consultant to Arts and History Projects

Nick Clooney, broadcast journalist and author gave a brief eloquent and amusing speech about the historic importance of Abraham Lincoln. Then Dr. Gary Zola presented a plaque to Willie Cardon, Cincinnati Park Director, on behalf of all the Legacy Planning Partners. And last, Caroline Van Deusen spoke about planning for the National Lincoln Bicentennial celebration.

For details on all of the Lincoln Legacy events and exhibits, go to www.CETconnect.org/LincolnLegacy ALSO ON THE WEB: Lincoln Bicentennial Related sites:
http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/ohio_statehouse/education/abraham_lincoln_at_the_statehouse.cfmhttp://www.nps.gov/abli/bicentennial-commencement-event.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/abli/http://www.kylincoln.org/

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Liaison has Family Ties with the Lincolns

Ohio’s governor appointed Columbus resident Caroline Van Deusen to be State Liaison for the state of Ohio.

The governor’s office had contacted Caroline Van Deusen after hearing she was to give a talk before a local civic organization about her family’s friendship with the Lincolns.

Van Deusen’s great-great grandmother was a friend of Mary Todd Lincoln and during the Civil War would visit the troops together. She also comforted the First Lady during the night of the assassination. Though her great grandmother disliked publicity can be seen in "The Death of Lincoln," an oil painting by Alonzo Chappel. She is seated directly in the center of the painting next to a weeping Mary Todd Lincoln, who kneels by her husband's side. Oddly enough, Van Deusen’s great grandfather was editor of the National Intelligencer to whom John Wilkes Booth wrote his murder confession.

Her lively presentation includes a reading of her great grandmother’s eye witness account of the night Lincoln died, family letters, journals, Lincoln memorabilia including a copy Lincoln’s famous “Greeley Letter”. Van Deusen’s family’s connection with the Lincolns will be showcased in an upcoming “Lincoln Friends” exhibit tentatively planned for late 2008.

Raised in West Simsbury, CT Caroline Van Deusen attended college in Boston, MA and New Haven, CT. Caroline Welling Van Deusen is the director of Internet services for Hatfield Auto Group, a group of 6 automotive dealerships in Columbus, OH, owned by Sonic Automotive of Charlotte, NC. She lives with her three children and husband in Grandview Heights, OH.

Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/index.php
OHIO: https://www.cetconnect.org/lincolnlegacy/
“Lincoln Friends” lincolnfriends@gmail.com or visit http://www.lincolnfriends.org/ (launch April 08)