Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln Memorial

“L” is for Lincoln, as in the Lincoln Memorial.

This breathtaking monument is a tribute to our sixteenth president and is located at the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 

The height of the memorial is 99 ft. and the marble used to build it came from Colorado. The sculpture of Lincoln himself is 19 ft. and the marble used came from Georgia. For some other interesting facts click this link.

I was in Washington in 2011 to visit my son who was doing an internship with the Dept. of Justice. My future daughter-in-law and my own daughter were on the trip as well. We took a day to sight see and the Lincoln Memorial was our last stop. 

I’ve had the pleasure to visit Washington several times and I highly recommend a visit to this memorial. There are many beautiful monuments and areas in the nation’s capitol, but this is one of my favorites. I suppose it’s due to the fact that Lincoln was one of our greatest and most popular presidents. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about this structure and I always feel like I’m stepping onto hallowed ground when I enter the interior.

One of the earliest stories we learn as young schoolchildren is of Lincoln cutting down the cherry tree by the family home. When his angry father asked if he did it, he admits his guilt immediately. Another story is from the time when  Lincoln worked as a store clerk and mistakenly took six cents too much from a customer. Realizing his error he walked three miles, after the store closed, to return the money. These are the stories that earned him the nickname “Honest Abe.”

He was well-known as a man of great integrity throughout his law practice, presidency, and life. Lincoln retained the humility of his simple roots and believed in equality for all people, regardless of skin color or their station in life. The politicians of today like to invoke his name and example, as it makes for great soundbites. But, sadly, most of them never follow that example.