D-Day, June 6, 1944

Lincoln Revisited, Revised and Updated

[Two-hundred-thirty-eight] years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

[Once again] we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of [clashing theories and opposing philosophies of governance]. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a ... place [to pause and give thought to] those who ... gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate –– we can not consecrate –– we can not hallow –– [any calendar date or mere piece of] ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled [fought and died, left maimed blinded or deranged], have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. 

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say ..., but it can never forget what they did .... 

It is for us the living, rather, to ... [dedicate ourselves to complete] the unfinished work which they who fought ... have ... so nobly advanced ... –– that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion –– that we here [today] resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain –– that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom –– and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.