The 6' 4" tall Abraham Lincoln shared his autobiography with hundreds of Duval County fifth-graders at the Jacksonville Main Library. Students smiled, laughed and patiently awaited their turn to ask "Honest Abe" questions about his accomplishments.
Dennis Boggs, the Abraham Lincoln Historical Reenactor, traveled from Nashville, Tennessee to meet with these students as he presented a light-hearted, educational look at the life of the 16th President of the United States. President Lincoln took the students through his personal experiences as he grew up, fell in love, had children and lived the most pressing years of his life as the U.S. President.
Sixteen Duval County elementary schools had the opportunity to attend this event over a two-day period. Participating elementary schools included
Brookview,
Chaffee Trail,
Pinedale,
Lake Lucina,
Hendricks Avenue,
Justina Road,
San Jose,
San Mateo,
Greenland Pines,
Parkwood Heights,
John N. C. Stockton,
J. Allen Axson,
Fort Caroline,
Pine Forest,
Oceanway and
St. Clair Evans Academy.
Countless students asked President Lincoln questions ranging from his love-at-first-sight encounter with his wife, Mary, to his part in the Emancipation Proclamation. Mr. Boggs presentation was so realistic, many students had to reassure themselves that he wasn't the "real" Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln left the students with a final message about reading with their families. He challenged the students to go home, turn off the television and read a story to their parents.
"The wars that you are fighting today can be fought by increasing your knowledge," said Mr. Boggs. "You can sit in front of the computer for hours, but you'll never gain more from them than you will from picking up a book and reading it."
To view pictures from the event, visit the
DCPS' flickr photostream.
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