Join Abraham Lincoln On Facebook

Greetings and Happy New Year from The Abraham Lincoln Blog. As this blog enters its fourth year, I am grateful to all of my readers for their continued support of this endeavor. Without your readership, questions, and comments, there would be no purpose for this blog to continue.

This new year of 2011 of course marks the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the American Civil War. Already events are being scheduled throughout the United States, North and South, to remember the bloodiest war in our nation's history. Re-enactments, parades, symposia, and a flood of books will be just some of the ways we Americans will remember this critical part of our history.

Becoming somewhat overlooked by the hoopla surrounding the war's commemorations is the fact that 2011 is also the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's inauguration as the 16th President Of The United States. The National Park Service is going to stage a re-creation of Lincoln's Inaugural Journey from Springfield to Washington next month, but most of the focus seems to be on the war anniversary. For example, my own hometown of Canton, OH has established a committee to stage events commemorating the war itself, but thus far, no one in town seems to have an interest in Lincoln's role in the events leading up to and including the Civil War.

Therefore, I have decided to create a project which will hopefully give insight into Lincoln's actions, thoughts, and activities as he entered the remaining months prior to becoming President during a time of national crisis.

Using the social network Facebook, I have created a page where people can receive status updates from "Abraham Lincoln" as he deals with the stress of seceding states, office seekers, preparing for the move to Washington, and relates his concerns. These updates will be written as if they are coming from Lincoln himself in 1861. I will be the sole writer of the updates and I will remain in character as "Lincoln." The updates will be "real time" in that "Lincoln" will not realize that there will be a Civil War in just a few months. "He" can comment about his past, but not about his future or about the events of our time.

This Facebook page is titled "HonestAbraham Lincoln". The name is a bit hokey, but Facebook wouldn't permit me to simply use his name. The link or URL for this page is quite simple:

http://facebook.com/HonestAbrahamLincoln

The Facebook page is NOT replacing this blog, nor am I ending the blog. It's simply meant to be another way I can help others to have a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Abraham Lincoln and his legacy. The Facebook page actually will complement the blog.

Please consider giving this new Facebook page of "HonestAbraham Lincoln" a try. Already 111 people are "liking" it and receiving updates from Mr. Lincoln. Why not join us in this new endeavor?