An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Feb. 15, 2024

Illinois National Guard Honors Former Guardsman Abe Lincoln

By Barbara Wilson, Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois National Guard recognized its most notable militiaman and 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, during a ceremony at his tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery Feb. 12, the 215th anniversary of his birth.

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, presented a wreath on behalf of President Joseph Biden as part of the 90th annual National American Legion Pilgrimage to his tomb.

“On behalf of the men and women of the Illinois National Guard, it is an honor to participate in this ceremony today,” Alessia said. “And it is a privilege for us all to learn from the life, the deeds, the words, and the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln.”

Alessia was carrying on a tradition that began in 1967 when President Lyndon Baines Johnson sent wreaths to be presented at the graves of his predecessors on their birthdays. Each year, wreaths of red, white and blue flowers are sent to the burial places of all deceased presidents on the anniversary of their birthday.

“Abraham Lincoln’s integrity, leadership and wisdom still permeates the fabric of our country 159 years after his death,” Alessia said.

Alessia told about 150 people who assembled for the ceremony that Lincoln has particular significance for the Illinois National Guard because he served as a captain in the Illinois State Militia during the Blackhawk War.

“Our Guardsmen draw inspiration from Lincoln almost daily,” Alessia said. “This is easy when you consider Lincoln served at the lowest levels of a military unit and at the very top as our commander in chief.”

 

 

Related Articles
Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the assistant adjutant general - Army of the Illinois National Guard and the commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, State Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Kelly, and State Command Chief Warrant Officer CW5 Thomas Black present Staff Sgt. Francisco Orozco with an award at the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion's annual awards banquet Nov.16, 2024, in Peoria. Orozco was the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer of the Year with 35 enlistments.
Illinois Army Guard’s Top Recruiter Pays it Forward
By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton, | Jan. 3, 2025
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - When Francisco Orozco first approached an Army National Guard recruiter in 2016, the recruiter “would not give me the time of day.”Orozco was overweight and had a neck tattoo. Both disqualified him from...

Guardsmen from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin participate in a two-week Army National Guard Defensive Deployable Cyber Operations Systems-Modular Master Gunner Course at Jackson Barracks, a Louisiana National Guard installation in New Orleans, Oct. 28 to Nov. 7, 2024.
NGB Hosts Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations Systems-Modular Master Gunner Course
By Staff Sgt. David C. Kirtland, | Nov. 13, 2024
NEW ORLEANS – The National Guard Bureau hosted the second Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations Systems-Modular (DDS-M) Master Gunner Course at Louisiana National Guard’s Jackson Barracks Oct. 28 to Nov. 7.The course,...

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jaron Bridges, 126th Logistics Readiness Squadron, points to pallets stacked up at the 8th Airlift Base, Krakow, Poland, Oct. 21, 2024. The 126th LRS was in Poland as part of an expeditionary site survey of Polish bases to assess their capabilities and runway strength for use by U.S., allied and partner forces.
Illinois, Ohio Guard Teams Survey Polish Bases with USAFE
By Master Sgt. Brian Ellison, | Nov. 5, 2024
ACROSS POLAND - Members from the Illinois Air National Guard, Ohio Air National Guard and U.S. Air Forces in Europe conducted expeditionary site planning surveys at three Polish military airbases and a commercial airport...