Updated: Feb. 12, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
|Published: Feb. 12, 2011, 6:00 p.m.
It's never too cold to get outdoors and celebrate.
They gathered today at the statue of Lincoln to honor the Great Emancipator and place a wreath on it.
It was against the promise of warmer weather that whorls of snow serenaded the their annual celebration, which was brought back to life by warming renditions of God Save America and The Battle Hymn of the Republic as sung by the St. Dominic Academy choir.
"Some people don't celebrate Lincoln's birthday," said Kacey Loaiza, a St. Dominic's senior in the choir. "We do it every year."
Lincoln, who was assassinated in April of 1865 by John Wilkes Booth as the Civil War was ending, is celebrated as one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States. The Lincoln Association's president, Suzann McKiernan, explains why.
"Many countries experience civil wars because the seeds of hatred were sown," she said. "But when our civil war ended, he treated the South respectfully and did not punish them."
His pardon of the South bridged the gap and united the country, she said, suggesting other world leaders follow in his example.
Past president of the Lincoln Association Jules Ladenheim recited the Gettysburg Address from memory, and Jersey City poet Melida Rodas read aloud her original work, "Mystic Lincoln."
The annual event marks the beginning of a new president for the association. Tonight, McKiernan will relinquish the presidency to Michael Ricciardone.
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