".... It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that 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, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. ......"
Gettysburg Address
by
Abraham Lincoln, President of the USA
November 1863
The 'Last full measure of devotion' was the act of dying in combat for their country.
Lincoln means that soldiers are sacrificing their lives for the devotion of their country. Soldiers put their lives on the line for their homeland when they enlist.
It means, "they died for their beliefs."
They gave everything they had: their lives.
There is no argument in the speech. Lincoln is describing why they are there and to remind people of the shared history. He states that the men buried there gave " their last full measure of devotion so the nation can long endure."
"...from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that 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, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
They gave their lives so that the Union might be able to survive and stay together.
Last Full Measure has 352 pages.
Ralph Geoffrey Newman has written: 'The pictorial autobiography of Abraham Lincoln' 'Lincoln' -- subject(s): Personality 'Abraham Lincoln's last full measure of devotion' -- subject(s): Death and burial, Funeral journey to Springfield, Miniature books, Specimens '\\' -- subject(s): Funeral journey to Springfield 'Lincoln for the ages' -- subject(s): Sermons
It is supposed to be a day for remembering our brave Americans who lost their lives while serving this country.
The Last Full Measure - novel - was created in 1998.
Last Full Measure was created on 2006-04-25.