Staunton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Address by President Lincoln
At the Dedication of The Gettysburg National Cemetery
November 19, 1863
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 altogether 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 government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the National Cemeteries series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is November 19, 1863.
Location. 38° 8.417′ N, 79° 2.991′ W. Marker is in Staunton, Virginia. Marker can be reached from Richmond Avenue (U.S. 250) east of National Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the Staunton National Cemetery, just inside the main gate, mounted at eye-level on the north (front) side of the cemetery office building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 901 Richmond Avenue, Staunton VA 24401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Staunton National Cemetery (here, next to this marker); A National Cemetery System (a few steps from this marker); Medal of Honor Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial (a few steps from
this marker); United States National Military Cemetery - Staunton (a few steps from this marker); First Settler's Grave (approx. 0.6 miles away); Avenue of Trees (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staunton.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Staunton National Cemetery
Additional commentary.
1. About Gettysburg Address Plaques
Gettysburg Address plaques are consistently present on the grounds of national cemeteries in the United States. New submissions of these plaques are no longer published with their own marker profiles. However, they may be added as supplemental photos to profiles for nearby markers.
— Submitted April 10, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 305 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.