President Obama returning to Illinois on Abraham Lincoln's birthday

[February 05, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama is heading back to his home state for the first time as president.

The White House says he will travel to Springfield on Feb. 12 in honor of one of his personal heroes, Abraham Lincoln. This will be the first official trip for Obama as our president.

Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday that Obama will attend the commemoration of Lincoln's 200th birthday and speak at a banquet in Springfield sponsored yearly by the Abraham Lincoln Association. The spokesman says Obama is returning to Illinois for the festivities at the request of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin.

“Abraham Lincoln's legacy is deeply rooted in his home state of Illinois," said Durbin. "Last week, our state proudly looked to Washington once again as another son of Illinois took the presidential oath of office. As our country's economic challenges grow, President Barack Obama will be called on to show leadership and courage similar to that shown by Lincoln during one of the most difficult periods in our history. I am honored to have the opportunity to welcome our new president back to Springfield for this important celebration of Lincoln's life."

The Abraham Lincoln Association was formed in 1908 and was previously called the Lincoln Centennial Association. It was originally formed to celebrate Lincoln's 100th birthday. Each year on Lincoln's birthday, the association hosts a banquet and symposium that features renowned Lincoln scholars and speakers.

Although President George Bush came to Springfield to open the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, this is the first time the organization will have a president of the United States as speaker, and it has been confirmed that the 900-seat event is sold out. A second room, where guests can watch the president on a closed-circuit television, has been opened, with tickets for that room available at $45 per person.

Obama used the city of Springfield and the Old State Capital twice as a backdrop for his presidential campaign: once when he announced his candidacy and again when he announced Joe Biden as his choice for vice president.

Former Govs. Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar will attend, along with current Gov. Pat Quinn.

[Associated Press; LDN staff]

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