THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
FOURSCORE 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 ALTOGEATHER
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 GOVERMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE,
FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.
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In Memory of Lee Jr. Fisher 1926-1998
In Memory of Ronald John Fisher-KIA
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