6 2014 Lincoln Heritage Museum Magazine Lincoln Daily News.com April 26, 2014
have contributed the most to the welfare of fellow
students throughout his or her involvement in the total
Lincoln College community. He is vice president of
Life Changing Studies, a Bible study group formed by
LC students, and a member of the college chorale and
chamber choir.
After Bedford’s beautiful rendition of the national
anthem, Blackburn returned to the podium to
introduce nationally known Lincoln scholar Dan
Weinberg. Weinberg
is a Lincoln College
trustee and chairman
of the Lincoln
Heritage Committee.
He was involved in
the design of the new
museum and worked
to assure historical
accuracy in the
museum.
Weinberg opened by saying, “Now the eternal question
begins: Is this a college with a museum attached, or
a museum with a college attached?” He continued by
saying that the museum is as much a place of learning
as the college itself.
He said Abraham Lincoln still has much to teach us all,
and that is what the museum is about. He quoted the
museum motto: “Learn like Lincoln. Live like Lincoln.”
He went on to say: “We are artifact-oriented, as
artifacts tend to place us in the moment. As you view
the various artifacts on display and read the various
storylines, don’t let the numerous trees obscure the
entire forest. For it is Lincoln, the forest, that (is) made
up of so many different aspects, like a multitude of
trees in a forest. That is the man whom we seek to
understand and emulate.”
Weinberg went on to name specific people, groups
and committees who throughout the history of the
construction of the museum contributed through their
vision and leadership, and he remembered with sorrow
those who were dedicated to the college and museum
and did not live to see this great day for the college.
The next guest speaker was state Rep. Rich Brauer,
who Blackburn said had been a great friend to the
college and a great
supporter of the
museum project.
Brauer began by
saying that when
first elected 12
years ago, a friend
gave him some sage
advice about the
city of Lincoln. “She
said, ‘Stand next to
Sen. Bomke. They love Sen. Bomke in Lincoln,’” Brauer
recalled. “We are very lucky to have had a senator like
that who served this area.”
Brauer then acknowledged Bomke in the audience, to a
healthy round of applause.
Brauer talked about how Abraham Lincoln was
embarrassed by his lack of formal education. He said
that Lincoln educated himself, even during the Civil
War, and strove to be well informed. Therefore, it is
fitting that a college, where young people can learn and
grow, should be named for this president.
He added that Lincoln was also one who would
be embarrassed by the attention he has been given
through the college and museum; that he would be
humbled to see how many were present; and how he
would also be honored.
Blackburn next introduced Mayor Keith Snyder
— first joking
that Snyder was
employed by “the
other university”
in Lincoln — but
then went on more
seriously to say
that the mayor and
the city have been
great supporters of
Lincoln College and
the museum.
Blackburn supportively said that Snyder is working
hard to preserve the history and heritage of the
Lincoln community through several organizations
and complimented him, saying, “That work is greatly
appreciated.”
