Press Release - Lincoln Commission Begins Work
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOV. 20, 2008
CONTACT:
Megan Castle, 303-866-6386, megan.castle@state.co.us
GOV'S NEW LINCOLN COMMISSION TO BEGIN WORK TOMORROW (NOV. 21)
New commission to study the significance of Abraham Lincoln Presidency in preparation of 2009 bicentennial celebration
Gov. Bill Ritter recently issued an Executive Order to create the Colorado Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The purpose of the commission is to lead Colorado's efforts at understanding and appreciating the significance of Abraham Lincoln and his presidency to our nation and on Colorado's history, and to encourage dialogue about the "unfinished work" of democracy and equal opportunity in our own place and time.
The Commission will: recommend and initiate programs to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth throughout 2009; promote awareness of how the West shaped Lincoln and how he shaped the West; and encourage dialogue about and civic engagement with the challenges to democracy and equal opportunity that Lincoln faced in his time and that we face in ours. The commission will begin their work tomorrow, Nov. 21, 2008 at 1:30pm; 1560 Broadway, Suite 1550, Denver, CO.
"As history will attest, Abraham Lincoln is considered one of America's greatest president's and his legacy has special importance to Colorado and the West," Gov. Ritter said. "He drew a line against the expansion of slavery in the West and he held that line, and he labored long and hard to keep Colorado out of the Civil War. That kind of presidential leadership shaped the development of the West and Colorado for years to come."
In February 2009, the nation will celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. In recognition and anticipation of this anniversary, Gov. Ritter created an Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission to encourage participation in the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. The overall goal of the Commission is to increase knowledge and awareness of Lincoln in the United States and abroad.
The twenty-person commission will be made up of from individuals from all across the state. Members are:
- Honorable Nancy Todd of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, appointed in consultation with the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives, appointed;
- Honorable Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, to serve as a member of the Colorado Senate, appointed in consultation with the President and Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate, appointed;
- Eugene Hainer of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Colorado Department of Education and as a representative of the Colorado State Library, appointed;
- William J. Convery, III of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Colorado Historical Society, appointed;
- Brent K. Wagner of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Denver Public Library, appointed;
- Margaret A. Coval of Elizabeth, Colorado, to serve as a representative of Colorado Humanities, appointed;
- Wendell Pryor of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a Co-Chair of the Commission, appointed;
- Dr. Sydney Nathans of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a Co-Chair of the Commission, appointed;
- Thorvald A. Nelson of Aurora, Colorado, appointed;
- Susan E. Hotz of Greenwood Village, Colorado, appointed;
- Barbara Lovell-Reid of Fort Garland, Colorado, appointed;
- Pamela P. Osborne of Denver, Colorado, appointed;
- Eric Love of Broomfield, Colorado, appointed;
- Edward R. Crowther of Alamosa, Colorado, appointed;
- Michael L. Perry of Fruita, Colorado, appointed;
- Christopher L. Dill of Greeley, Colorado, appointed;
- Susan Schulten of Denver, Colorado, appointed;
- Brooke D. Talmachoff of Westminster, Colorado, appointed;
- Thomas P. Hagan of Golden, Colorado, appointed;
- Shane "Kato" Crews of Monument, Colorado, appointed.
The twenty-person commission consists of up to twenty (20) members, they are appointed by and are serving at the pleasure of the Governor through December 31, 2009.