A Big Bang for the 42nd Lincoln Memorial Shrine by Marina Rojas - City News Group, Inc.
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A Big Bang for the 42nd Lincoln Memorial Shrine

By Marina Rojas, Community Writer
February 11, 2014 at 05:57pm. Views: 82

On Sunday February 9, 2014, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine at the A.K. Smiley Library at 125 W. Vine Street in Redlands held their 42nd Open House and Birthday Celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Civil War reenactors were invited to come by and help lend an authentic air to the festivities and in true Yankee style, the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery Battery B (otherwise known as Coopers Battery) decided to commemorate the occasion by firing off a round from their light artillery cannon. It was a “BOOM” heard around the neighborhood. Gordon Bergslien of Glendora, a member of the 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery Battery B was explaining the workings of the cannon to Lincoln Shrine Docent Bradley Harjehusen. “Yep, it’s light artillery until you go to move it,” chucked Bergslien, “It weighs about one ton.” He shared that in actual battle the cannon was capable of firing off 2 rounds a minute and “maybe three with a well trained crew.” The grounds surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Shrine had encampments of both Union and Confederate soldiers, alongside Northern ladies and Southern belles strolling throughout the park setting. Together with the public that had come to enjoy the merriment, the Civil War reenactors lent a feeling to the event of one having been transported back in time. Abraham Lincoln presenter Robert Broski wandered through the crowd bringing smiles and gasps of surprise as he reached out to all who came to the event. With his tall stove pipe hat and signature beard people felt as if Lincoln himself had come to visit Redlands that day. Outside on the grounds, Larry Duncan, an American Civil War Society member from Redlands, proved to be a big hit with the event goers. Displaying medical paraphernalia and severed body parts, his reenactment area of specialty was field hospital procedures during the Civil War era. With everyone’s modern day enthusiasm for shows such as Bones, NCIS and CSI, a large crowd consistently gathered to see him demonstrate antique medical equipment and to hear details about healing methods during those times which sometimes turned out to be more deadly than helpful. Inside the rotunda of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Civil War reenactors Michael and Janice Hicks of Mentone (portraying the characters of Captain Ellis Spear of the 20th Maine Infantry and his wife Susan Spear) were romantically twirling to the tunes played by Bill Bell and his Civil War group of musicians. Mr. Bell had recorded an album of Civil War era music called Under the Dome at practically that very spot a few years ago, and was back to help celebrate this auspicious occasion. President Lincoln (Presenter Robert Broski) stopped by the rotunda to greet those who were listening to the music, and he paused to share a small speech he had prepared for the occasion. As he began to speak the entire building grew quiet as the familiar strains of the Gettysburg Address rang throughout the hallways. Library and Shrine Director Don Mc Cue then spoke to those who had come to celebrate the 42nd Open House. He encouraged everyone to walk through the exhibitions and see the rich history of the man who was Abraham Lincoln, and hoped that all would come to understand and develop an appreciation of the story his life told. Mc Cue shared, “Robert Watchorn, the man who started all of this, had always wanted this museum to be a place where people could come and celebrate the life of Abraham Lincoln. We have held this Open House since the 1970s, and have celebrated this way ever since. We bring in new things all the time and want the community to celebrate with us as we grow and grow. This truly is a wonderful way to honor the life of Abraham Lincoln.” For Robert Broski, Lincoln Presenter, this was his third year returning to the Shrine for the annual celebration. “I had an opportunity years ago to be a part of a small independent film called ‘Grace Bedell’, a story about a little girl who suggested to Lincoln that he grow a beard. After I grew a beard for the part I looked in the mirror and said to myself, 'Well, this is who you are, this is who you were meant to be.' So, I have been presenting Mr. Lincoln ever since then. The people at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine are working hard to preserve the character, the honesty and the integrity of Abraham Lincoln for the ages to come. I am honored and blessed to be invited to be a part of all of that,” said Broski. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Shrine is open to the public Tuesday through Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can contact them at 909-798-7632 or on line at www.lincolnshrine.org

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