President Lincoln (Fritz Klein) converses with a young fan.
Photos and info from www.michigancitylaporte.com
To mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train in Michigan City, actor Fritz Klein will portray Lincoln to offer the president’s reflections and historical information on Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1.
Fritz Klein as Lincoln.
Hear about events surrounding Lincoln’s assassination, his funeral, his vision for America as he expressed it during his life, and his hopes of moving the nation from civil war to civil rights.
Three presentations of “President Abraham Lincoln — The Final Journey” will take place:
— Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 3 Lake Shore Drive, Michigan City
— Friday, May 1, at 10 a.m. at Elston School, 317 Spring St., Michigan City. While this is mainly for students, there is room for some additional guests. Call Larry Swiger at 219-872-6133 or email llswiger@att.net if you would like to attend.
— Friday, May 1, at 1 p.m. at the Michigan City Armory
This first-person program commemorating the 1865 Funeral Train journey consists of an introduction by a national park ranger followed by a one-hour presentation by Lincoln (Klein), who has been portraying the president for more than 30 years and is considered one of the nation’s top Lincoln interpreters.
Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer will welcome everyone to the Thursday evening event at the Armory.
Civil War re-enactors from Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will salute Lincoln with a volley of gunfire as he enters the Armory, and there will be a Civil War encampment on the Armory grounds.
Lincoln (Klein) addressing Union soldiers.