“On February the 12th, 1809, Abraham Lincoln came into this world in a dirt floored log cabin on the Big South Fork of Nolan’s Creek in Kentucky” says folksinger Chris Vallilo as he launches into the combination of narrative; storytelling and music that make up his one man show Abraham Lincoln in Song. Vallillo, a former archaeologist turned musician and folklorist, created the show using period music that was directly associated with Lincoln as the vehicle to tell the story of our 16th President’s life and times.

With Abraham Lincoln in Song, Vallillo combines Lincoln’s own words and stories with period folk songs and contemporary folk music to shed light on one of our nation’s most beloved historical figures – not only as a remarkable leader, but as a man who knew and loved this very music himself. Skillfully presenting both well known and obscure songs from Lincoln’s time, Vallillo tells Lincoln’s story – from his birth in Kentucky through his death in 1865 at the hand of John Wilkes Booth. From political songs like Lincoln and Liberty, to the moving civil war song We are Coming Father Abra’am”, Vallillo’s show lets the music to tell the tale in a way that words alone can’t match.

Vallillo himself is a performer with an affinity for American roots music and a gift for translating historic topics into modern day understanding without losing the bedrock from which they surface. A former archaeologist turned folksinger/songwriter, he is a skilled six-string and bottleneck slide guitarist whole love of the past evolved into a love for old music.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum’s Phil Funkenbusch notes, “With Abraham Lincoln in Song, Chris Vallillo takes the audience on a musical journey, making history come alive with his excellent blending of music and storytelling. He grabbed hold of the museum visitors here, establishing excellent rapport with the audience with this thoughtful, humorous and moving show.”

Vallillo has performed Abraham Lincoln in Song at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, The Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site, President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D. C. and theaters, museums, and historic sites around the country to celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth.

Marion Public Library would like to thank Indiana Humanities, the American Library Association, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for making this program possible.

So, when your country is faced with civil war, how would you decide which side to support? Which side would have your support? Would you be willing and even eager to go to war and perhaps die for your side? What if your brother or sister chose the other side? What about your friends? What if most of your friends were going with the other side? How do you choose?

Since the end of the Civil War, millions of words have been written about it, about the causes, about supporters of the Union & the Confederacy. Dr. Nichole Etcheson, Alexander M. Bracken Professor of History at Ball State, will be at Marion Public Library on Thursday, June 28, to speak on the topic Choosing Sides. The readings for this topic are in America’s War: Talkikng About the Civil War and Emanicpation on their 150th Anniversaries which is available at Circulation Services for you to borrow. Dr. Etcheson’s presentation will begin at 6 p.m in Meeting Room B.

Marion Public Library would like to thank Indiana Humanities, the American Library Association, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for making this program possible.

Ron Darrah has retired from public school administration & the Ari National Guard. He has spent more than 25 years working on his avocation, genealogy research. Among the surnames he has researched are

• Darrah
• Bowen
• O’Neill
• Blanchard
• Wilson
• Allen

A resident of Indianapolis, Darrah is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Indiana Genealogical Society as well as the Ohio Genealogical Society.

Darrah will be at MPL on Thursday, June 21 at 6 p.m. to help you with your search for those Civil War ancestors.

Marion Public Library would like to thank Indiana Humanities, the American Library Association, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for making this program possible.

Nicholas Irwin was born in Denmark & immigrated to the United States. He was a hard worker and labored in factories. He was a seaman in the Union Navy & fought in the battle of Mobile Bay. He recieved the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, Alabama, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks from stem to stern, Seaman Irwin fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan. (http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=2452)

Unlike Irwin, Jeremiah Kuder was a Hoosier. Born in Ohio, he entered the service in Warsaw, Indiana. He was a lieutenant in Company A, 74th Indiana Infantry. He received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism on 1 September 1864, while serving with Company A, 74th Indiana Infantry, in action at Jonesboro, Georgia, for capture of flag of 8th and 19th Arkansas.  (http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=1664)

The Civil War Remembrance, a joint project between Marion Public Library & the Marion National Cemetery, included

a display of the colors by the Grant County AMVETS Post 5,

Pledge of Allegiance led by Bill Burden, and

the Star-Spangled Banner sung a capella by Mandy Stoffer, Chelsea Smith, & Ryan Steiner.

After hearing the stories of the 2 veterans & laying wreaths on their graves, the ceremony concluded with a rifle volley by Kokomo VFW Military Rites and Taps played by Max Tillman.

Marion Public Library would like to thank Indiana Humanities, the American Library Association, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for making this program possible.

In 1973 the National Cemetery Act was passed including this cemetery in the National Cemetery system. At that point the name was changed to the Marion National Cemetery. Originally developed to provide a final resting place for Civil War veterans, the Marion National Cemetery now serves as the burial ground for more than 8,000 men and women who have served our country. Among those buried here are three Medal of Honor recipients: Nicholas Irwin & Jeremiah Kuder from the Civil War; & Henry Hyde who fought in the Indian Wars.

The Marion Public Library & the Marion National Cemetery are pleased to join together to host a military service in honor of those who fought in the Civil War. The Civil War Remembrance will be on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Marion National Cemetery, 1700 East 38th Street, Marion, Indiana. Click here for a map to the Marion National Cemetery.

We look forward to seeing you Saturday morning.

Marion Public Library would like to thank the National Endowment for the Humanities, American Library Association, & Indiana Humanities for making this program possible.

One Destiny will be performed at MPL on Wednesday, June 6 at 6 p.m. in Meeting Room B. This event is free & open to the public. Please note that is recommended for audiences age 8 and older.

This event is part of the travelling exhibit, Lincoln: The Constitution & the Civil War and Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the Civil War.

The National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office organized the traveling exhibition, which was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): great ideas brought to life. The traveling exhibition is based on an exhibition of the same name developed by the National Constitution Center.

Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War, a reading and discussion series, has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Library Association, and Indiana Humanities.