It's sometimes easy to take Abraham Lincoln and the priceless legacy he left us for granted. Our children take school field trips to the Lincoln sites. We shuttle out-of-town visitors from Lincoln's Home to the Tomb to New Salem. But there is so much more to this man who called Springfield home.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will pull the Lincoln story together in a way that's never been done before. Visitors will be able to explore the many facets of Abraham Lincoln, from the gangling young man in New Salem to the accomplished lawyer in Springfield to our nation's president in the White House. Scholars from around the world will gather to share new ideas. History buffs will have more than 46,000 Lincoln artifacts at their fingertips. And students will immerse themselves in the everyday life of mid-19th century Springfield.

The library and museum will be home to the world's largest Abraham Lincoln collection. Before the Library project became a reality, the State of Illinois' possession of this remarkable collection has been like owning a Renoir and storing it in the attic because the living room's too crowded. With the opening of the Library/Museum, the public will now have access to the Lincoln collection—Illinois' crown jewels.

Illinoisans have always taken great pride in the fact that our collection includes such treasures as the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and other documents tracing our nation's quest for freedom and peace. Now it's time for us to share these historical treasures with the rest of America and the world.

Springfield considers it an honor and a privilege to be a partner in this project and to share the history of this great man with visitors from around the globe. Lincoln is greatly admired around the world and is often cited as a symbol for the suffering that must be endured when peace is the goal. He speaks to people of all nations and all languages, across all time.

I'm reminded of the totem pole at the entrance to the Illinois State Museum. It is a replica of the original Proud Raven Pole carved in 1883 and is topped with a likeness of Abraham Lincoln. The carver, a Tlinglit Indian from a village in Alaska, had never seen a white man. So, he chose a portrait of Abraham Lincoln as his model for mankind.

It's difficult to measure the cultural, academic and economic value of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to our state and the Springfield community. Springfield is already a popular destination for both family and business travelers. We now have a wonderful opportunity to open our city to many more visitors who will come here to share in the Lincoln legacy.

It's been said that Abraham Lincoln is one of the most written about figures in all of world history. I feel very humble knowing our city will house the center that will tell Abraham Lincoln's poignant and painful struggle to hold in place the shredded fabric of our nation. There's no better time than now to contemplate the values and freedoms we've fought so many times to defend and protect.

Our country recently suffered a loss we could never have imagined. The mere mention of the date, September 11, 2001, will haunt us forever. Thousands of our nation's people lost their lives on that tragic day. But, we can find solace and gather courage today from the words of Lincoln written nearly 140 years ago.

"...we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -Address at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863.

I think Abraham Lincoln would have been fascinated by the use of both historic artifacts and state-of-the-art technology in the interpretation of his life in this new library/museum complex. He was a man of great vision. He knew the wisdom of studying the successes and failures of the past to plan for the future. He valued progress while respecting traditions. He was a man who had the heart of a nation. I think he would have approved.

Karen Hasara is the Mayor of Springfield. Prior to her election in 1995 as the first woman mayor of Springfield Karen Hasara served nine years in the Illinois General Assembly. From 1986 to 1993 she was the State Representative from the 100th district and from 1993 to 1995 served as State Senator from the 50th district. Before starting her public service career she was a teacher and a realtor and broker manager. The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org