Lincoln Memorial: Middle School marks president's 200th birthday, unveils Hall of Fame
FEBRUARY 12, 2009 - Students, faculty and alumni at Lincoln Middle School observed the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth today with a star-studded salute to the 16th-president and a dozen of the 82-year-old school's outstanding graduates.
The bicentennial event featured the unveiling of a Hall of Fame honoring 12 former students and the school's longest-serving principal, who are recipients of the school's Capstone Award. Former U.S. presidential candidate and Rockford native John B. Anderson gave a speech on President Lincoln's legacy, and the school band performed 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic.'
Mr. Anderson is a first-year recipient of the Capstone Award and inaugural member of the exhibit. Lincoln established the award during its 75th anniversary in 2002 to honor achievements by former students and faculty who serve as inspiration for current and future students. Three new Capstone inductees were recognized during the ceremony in the school's historic auditorium: 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Janet Lynn, photographer Nels Akerlund and Marine Corporal Adam McKiski, who was killed in Iraq in 2008.
Besides Mr. Anderson, the 10 previous recipients are: Cheap Trick guitar legend Rick Nielsen, ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Timothy Johnson, 17th Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Janet (Clark) Holmgren, hostage survivor Kurt Carlson, artist Tom Heflin, Grammy-nominated musician Raul Cardenas, former Lincoln Principal Harry Hulick, Kids Around the World founder Dennis Johnson and Mary Ann Smith, who led the campaign to restore the landmark Coronado Theatre. All but Hulick attended Lincoln.
The exhibit consists of a series of 4-by-6-foot banners with text about the Capstone recipients and a mix of vintage photographs and new images captured by Akerlund, who has traveled the globe on assignment for the National Geographic Society and publications including The New York Times. Akerlund designed the exhibit as an in-kind donation, and charitable gifts paid the production costs.
 A reception in the school's marble lobby concluded the event, complete with a cake to celebrate Mr. Anderson's birthday. He noted during his speech that he would turn "four score and seven years" old February 15.
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