Now we are engaged in a great birthday celebration, testing whether this boy, or any boy so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure (I sure as hell hope so!). We have come to dedicate this day as an appropriate celebration of his birthday. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this fellow far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what this boy accomplished here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished life which Steve has thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- to properly celebrate a life of fun and happiness; in this we take increased devotion and we here highly resolve that Steve shall live another three score and three and shall not perish from the earth.
