LPB seeks Gettysburg Address recitations

BATON ROUGE - 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

As part of this celebration, famed PBS producer Ken Burns has a new documentary called The Address, premiering April 15 at 8 p.m. on LPB, that tells the story of a tiny school in Putney, Vermont, where each year the students are encouraged to memorize, practice and recite the Gettysburg Address.

In its exploration of the Greenwood School, the film also unlocks the history, context and importance of President Abraham Lincoln’s most powerful address.

Burns is challenging everyone across the country, especially students, to learn about and read aloud the Gettysburg Address.

He wants everyone to record themselves reciting the address and upload the recording to the LPB website (lpb.org/theaddress). Go to www.learntheaddress.org for more details.

LPB is trying to get as many Louisiana citizens as possible to join in the initiative, which already includes recordings by President Barack Hussein Obama and former presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush along with a long list of celebrities and elected officials.

Visit lpb.org/theaddress to see who has already recorded their recitation or upload your own.