Alliance Is Making Plans To Reenact
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Virginia non-profit has been formed to reenact the Nov. 20, 1861, Grand Review of U.S. troops for President Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet. The Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance will include art and educational programs, as well as commemoration of the review that was held near Falls Church in Fairfax County at what was called Bailey’s Crossroads. The group intends to reenact the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's Grand Review of 1861 at Bailey's Crossroads in November 2011 and establish future reenactments every five years. It will also unveil Ron Tunison's life-size bronze commemorative sculpture of Abraham Lincoln at the Grand Review and a bas-relief of the Grand Review. The group has commissioned Brad Schmehl to create the official painting of Lincoln’s Grand Review. Five other artists will produce paintings related to Civil War events around Bailey’s Crossroads. All six will be published in an illustrated portfolio along with period illustrations and text about each Northern Virginia community. The alliance will also place Virginia Civil War Campaign Trail signs in the Northern Virginia region of Bailey’s Crossroads, including Alexandria, Baileys Crossroads, Arlington, Fairfax and Annandale by the close of the war’s sesquicentennial and develop related educational programs and materials. The sesquicentennial reenactment will be held on Nov. 12, 2011. It will be comprised of 5,000 soldiers, civilians, local citizen groups and active military divided into five marching divisions each headed by a ceremonial detachment from the five uniformed services. The original review featured 70,000 soldiers in seven divisions. More immediately, the alliance is planning “An Evening with Mr. Lincoln,” a performance by Lincoln portrayer James A. Getty, at The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater on June 11 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and Information call (800) 444-1324. In connection with the 2011 reenactment the Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance plans to hold an art exhibit Nov. 9-12 with an artist reception and a Nov. 11 concert with an Armed Forces band. History lectures will be given Nov. 10 and 11 at Northern Virginia Community College/Alexandria Campus and two balls are planned at Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery. The alliance also has petitioned for issuance of a stamp commemorating both the Grand Review and Julia Ward Howe’s composition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which was inspired by the review. The Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Northern Virginia Association of History Inc., the Lincoln Group of Washington D.C., and the Fairfax County History Commission have endorsed the alliance. Its board of directors members are María Elena Schacknies, For information about the Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance go to www.latcra.org. |
