Day 4: A Day with the Lincoln Family

Day four was another unexpected stop.  After having talked to Grandma and Grandpa, the recommendation to stop at the Springfield, IL Lincoln Museum was made.  Having previously established the nerdiness of my crew, this made perfect sense.  We had a quick breakfast with our favorite Airman near Scott AFB

And headed up to Springfield.  It was only an hour and a half drive, which was a nice reprieve from the previous days 5 and 6 hours.  We met at one of the Springfield malls, ate a little more, and went exploring!

The Great 16th President has always been a love of mine.  Maybe its partly genetic, as my grandfather was also enamored with the man.  Maybe its in my roots in the Land of Lincoln (my bff makes fun that I dress like "Little House on the Prairie"...I told her that is because I'm FROM a little house on the prairie).  IN any case, I LOVE LINCOLN.  The museum in Springfield does a fabulous job helping kids love learning about him as well!

We enjoyed several interactive exhibits and some films.  We got to see authentic artifacts and letters from Abe himself, as well as tour some of the sets and see the grand costumes from the movie, "Lincoln".  After we finished up (we spent probably 6 hours there.  I highly recommend visiting!), Grandpa JC took the two oldest female JC's up to Galesburg, while Grandma JC and I took Boy JC and Baby JC to a special flag ceremony at.....

LINCOLN'S TOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 114th Illinois Volunteer Regiment gave a fabulous presentation with flag lowering, taps, marching drills, and cannon fire.  Boy JC was quite impressed.  After the ceremony, he got some cool pictures holding a sword

And holding a rifle

We were very fortunate that the tomb, which normally closes at 5pm, was re-opened for the observers of the ceremony.  Entering the Tomb Of Lincoln.  Even the thought gave me goosebumps.  In the last 4 days, I've been in the oldest cemetery in New Orleans, seen the grave of the Voodoo queen, the future resting place of Nicholas Cage, the home of Elvis....and here I was at the grave of one of the most influential and controversial men of the last 200 years.  The hype of the previous dead we'd visited pales in comparison, and the pomp and circumstance of pop culture faded to the gravity and somberness entering the grave site of this great man.  

I can't even begin to describe the heaviness and the mustiness, which you can breath in and enjoy because you are breathing with the ghosts of greatness.  I was walking on The President Himself.  Humbled.  Beautiful.  Day 4 was in the books.