New Abraham Lincoln Statue is a Hit!

By David J. Kent

Washington, D.C.

Monday, September 22, 2025

On the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln issuing the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, a new Lincoln statue depicting him signing that proclamation was unveiled today on the streets of Washington, DC. The Lincoln Group of D.C.'s president, Ed Epstein, was instrumental in planning a fabulous program that attracted people from far and wide to witness speeches and the official unveiling. There were even NECCO wafers.

The event took place on a perfect sunny and warm day in the plaza featuring a statue honoring African American troops of the Civil War. The memorial includes the etched names of all 209,145 U.S. Colored Troops who served in Union forces and sits directly across the street from the African American Civil War Museum. The program began with Epstein as master of ceremonies, presentation of the colors, music by members of the George Mason University Eighth Green Machine Regiment Band, and an invocation by Rev. Sarah Johnson, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Dawn Chitty, director of education of the museum, gave information on the museum's renovation status and plans for its public reopening on November 11. She was followed by Robert L. Bell, a member of the museum board, who spoke about "Lincoln and the US Colored Troops." Then it was time for the keynote speaker, Edna Greene Medford, professor of history emerita at Howard University, who described Lincoln's - and African Americans - role in emancipation. Epstein wrapped up the first portion with a proposition for 2026, reminding the crowd that "the new birth of freedom" was a constant struggle, one that all of us in the present day must be mindful of the continuing fight in this age of renewed attack on those freedoms.

The program continued with William T. Newman, former Chief Judge of the Arlington Circuit Court in Virginia, reading the Emancipation Proclamation, followed by comments from Frank Smith, executive director of the African American Civil War Memorial Museum. Smith acknowledged the long efforts by himself and others to bring the memorial, the museum, and the new statue to life. He brought out the fourth-grade students of William Lloyd Garrison Elementary School and their principal, Brigham Kiplinger, who will be helping to read all of the names from the memorial at the November 11 museum dedication.

All of this led up to the grand unveiling. The growing crowd moved across the street to the front of the museum, where acclaimed sculptor Stan Watts offered a few words before he, Smith, and other organizers pulled off the tarp to reveal Watts's creation - a seated Lincoln putting his signature on the Emancipation Proclamation.

And to sweeten the deal, every attendee got free NECCO wafers, one of the first candies produced in America and a favorite of troops during the Civil War (and which was a New England specialty that I grew up with in Massachusetts).

As a former LGDC president attending as a spectator, I want to congratulate Ed Epstein, Frank Smith, Mick Bedard, and others for putting together a spectacular program to highlight the new statue. The event was very well attended, including people who came in from Illinois, Florida, Maine, and other far-flung parts of the country to witness this wonderful event.

But wait, there's more. Following the main program, the crowd moved on to the Thurgood Marshall Center on 12th Street for a reception sponsored by the F.R.E.E.D. (Female Reenactors of Distinction) for tea and refreshments.

Finally, keep in mind that this program was focused on the dedication of the new Lincoln statue that now sits in front of the museum. There will be even bigger programs on November 10 and 11 for the official reopening of the Civil War Museum itself, so keep checking back on Lincolnian.org for more details.

[Photos by David J. Kent]