On President’s Day I mainly think of these two guys — Washington and Lincoln. Sorry, but after time passed, I sort of dropped Washington. But I did take my family to visit George Washington’s grave and toured Mt. Vernon before becoming biased in my personal delegation of “greatness” to Abe Lincoln. He somehow resonates with me.

When I was in Centrahoma grade school, we celebrated both Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays in February, but Ms. Downard had a thing for old “Honest Abe” and I guess she passed her prejudice’s off to me. The two celebrated days were later combined and just called “President’s Day.” Sorry ‘bout that George.

My “favored” Lincoln (unfortunately) was shot on April 14,1865, 70 years before I was born. In my life I have attended some long funerals and you might think you have too, but Abe Lincoln’s went on for more than three weeks. It involved several days of lying in state. Followed by many parades and memorials before his long train ride from DC to Maryland to Pennsylvania to New York to Ohio to Indiana and Illinois. To that, I think my beloved Abe Lincoln would have said “Good Grief!” Mr. Lincoln liked to keep things simple. I’ve read a “bio” or two on Lincoln and feel like I have met him.

President Lincoln was finally put in his final resting place on May 3rd. Well, you would think. Two weeks later grave robbers desecrated his grave but failed to get Mr. Lincoln. Additional measures were put in to ensure the integrity of his grave. In December of 1865 Mr. Lincoln was moved again, to a better, more secure tomb. In 1871 he was jostled around a little more when the bodies of three of his small sons were added to the vault area. New vault-memorial work was started. More secure.

In 1874 a new memorial was completed, and it wasn’t until 1876 that this “final” resting place was bothered again. This time by two Chicago grave robbers. They did a lot of damage but failed to extract any Lincoln bodies. They had planned on holding the bodies for ransom. In 1882 the peace and quiet was disturbed again when Mrs. Lincoln was added to the site. She had finally died. In 1887 all the bodies were again extracted and moved. It was time to rebuild the tomb, again. Then again in 1895. All five bodies dug up and removed. The tomb was once more rebuilt, using brick.

Sometime about 1929 Lincoln’s son, Robert, requested that President Lincoln’s body be encased in 30 tons of concrete. He was sick and tired of his dad being jostled around so much and soon, in 1930, Robert died too. He was added to this group of dead Lincolns. Along about this time President Hoover had the final version of Lincoln’s Tomb built and on December 19, 1960 Congress named it a National Landmark.

In 1977 I took my whole bunch of Bullard kids (Ron, Traci, Lesli and Steve) up there and we marched in and looked it over. It was very impressive, perhaps us not so much.

But I note that Mr. Lincoln has not been totally forgotten by criminals and grave robbers. Since our visit, vandals have desecrated the monument often enough that the tomb cops now no longer allow the public to go inside and see Lincoln’s actual Tomb.

I suppose our great president, “Honest Abe”, deserves his rest, but I don’t think he would want his tomb closed to those he loved so much — the American people. If he could have seen all this fuss about his dead body, he would have been somewhat amused.

Have a good week and go to your church this Sunday. Unlike Abe’s tomb, your church is still open to your visit.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com