Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen Visit the Site of The Gettysburg Address 

Two favourite actors but more delightfully two great suppoters of democracy.

Every American should visit the Gettysburg Battlefield and cemetery, site of the Address. Truly a profound, deeply moving experience.

As a combat veteran I want to thank you for doing this

I became an American citizen 20 years ago. Gettysburg is part of my precious, priceless inheritance.

Very nice to see those two acting giants together at the Hallowed Grounds of Gettysburg.

Lincoln said the world 🌎 would not long remember what is said here. Ironically Lincoln's Geetysburg Address is among the among the most famous and best remembered speeches ever given by anyone anywhere.😊❤

How totally wonderful! Thank you Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen!

It's so great to see famous people truly appreciate history in this way and show the kind of respect that it deserves. It's easy to view all celebrities as arrogant and shallow. These two men are special people. Thank you ABT!

I’m 80yo and I can still recite the Gettysburg Address I had to learn an recite it in my English class back in 1961. That brought me to tears, reciting it along with him so many years from my English Class and the actual event.

We are still hearing it today. I teach history, and the one president the students know more than any others is Lincoln. It resonates to the young!

On Friday 4-5-2024 I had a family from Kentucky for a tour, the eleven year old boy had memorized the Gettysburg Address for the family visit .

Nice to see Martin Sheen & Sam Waterston visit Gettysburg together🙂👍 The former played General Robert E. Lee in the feature film Gettysburg, and the latter portrayed President Abraham Lincoln in a TV movie biopic concerning him. They're both wonderful actors❤

I’m amazed that this was the first known reading of the Gettysburg Address at the actual site that Lincoln stood. Thanks to all involved for posting this video.

Terrific, thank you Mr's Sheen and Waterston for your contribution to our way of life.

I was an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland in the early 1960's. On some Saturday nights, we would drive into Washington, DC, about 15 miles away. On some of those nights I would go to the Lincoln Memorial, which back then was open to the public 24 hours a day and usually deserted on Saturday night, and read the Gettysburg Address which is engraved into the walls of the memorial in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln. It was always an emotional experience. It is so sad that others cannot share that same experience now that our society has created the need for barriers and guards and closing the monument at night.

It's very nice to see this happening and thanks to these 2 actors. Some people still respect the history of our country.

With the young guy looking on as he finishes reading spoke volumes. It was something that wasn’t scripted and was one of those moments that show what the meaning of ABT and the history of this country symbolizes. It is our job to preserve history forever for future generations. That was a cool moment in this entire video. I came to see these actors who we cherish from our favorite movie read the Gettysburg Address, however, it quickly turned into something way more meaningful.

Two fantastic entertainers and actors that have always shown a true love of history and our country's past! Sam as Lincoln in the miniseries was fantastic. Martin as Robert E. Lee in Gettysburg -- same. Two of the best actors of our time, no doubt!

A story I heard in Gettysburg. There was a kid who was a background actor/reenactor who filmed one day with Sheen playing Lee, but the kid had to walk home a great distance. Sheen was heading to where he was staying (I think the actors who were going to be there for a while had houses rented for them) and saw the kid walking along the road. He stopped and offered to take him the rest of the way home, and did. Can you imagine Mom and Dad seeing Martin Sheen letting their kid off in the driveway?

Loved Sam Waterstons portrayal of Lincoln. Martin Sheen is a wonderful actor as well and love his portrayal of Lee. I could hear that melody of Ashoken Farewell playing in the background as Sam read the address 👍

Martin Sheen portraying Robert Lee and Sam Waterson as Lincoln was good. Both acting, voice sounded in the tv show Lincoln and movie Gettysburg is great. Beyond words.

No greater words were ever spoken!! Lincoln was in my opinion was one of our greatest Presidents.

My Great Grandmother was there. She was 8 years old and sat on a nail keg very near the platform where he stood. Their 40 acre farm was a short distance away from the Battlefield and per my mother, she would tell about the soldiers marching past their farm.

I'm sitting alone in my livingroom watching this with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes 💜

Thank you for sharing this moment with the public via this video. After all of these years (I'll be 70 this summer), I still have a chill run down my spine and tears well up when I hear the Gettysburg Address. To see it delivered where it was actually spoken by Lincoln is a special treat. Thanks, again.

WOW! Thank you for posting this! I was enthralled up till the point when Sam poured the contents of Lincoln's pockets into Martin's hands... then I was enthralled and weeping.

Have always admired Martin Sheen for his talent and convictions. The man has always "walked it like like he talked it!" Gettysburg is a solemn monument to freedom and justice for all.

"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here..." Well, Mr. President, your words will long echo and will forever be remembered.

I remember Mr. Waterston in the role of Lincoln on TV when I was a teen. Hearing his experiences at the Library of Congress in preparation for the role was very moving, and shines a great light on the staff and purpose of the Library, and shows the depth of the personal character of Mr. Waterston as well. Mr. Sheen needs no introduction here, as his exemplary portrayal of Robert E. Lee in 'Gettysburg' speaks to his fine preparation for that role, and his presence in the video shows his commitment to our history. Thanks to ABT and all involved for this rather amazing video. Sam and Martin, thank you for these wonderful films you have given us.

I'm a big Civil War person me and my family went to Pennsylvania it was a great trip and experience anyone who is a American should see

Let's not also forget that Waterston read that speech for the series The Civil War by Ken Burns. He does such an extraordinary job of it.

Martin Sheen is one of my favorite actors. 😊

Mr. Waterston - that speech is a better monument to democracy than most monuments.

This was wonderful to see how special this moments were for these two great actors.

I’m a history lover…..moved me to tears. These two men, are two of my favorites.

Just beautiful. What a moment for all of you! I have chills! My husband and I just keep watching it over and over! Thank you so much for sharing it online!!

Hey, congratulations! It was cool seeing Sheen and Waterston. Both great actors! You guys are definitely the place to go for anything Gettysburg and the Civil War!

I flew in from Denver specifically to attend the Lessons from Lincoln conversation that was happened later that evening with Ken Burns and these two wonderful men. Wish I could have seen this as well!

Sam shares ideals similar to Lincoln. I’m glad they got this experience, least we forget this three minute speech.

Such a short speech with deep meaning! The proof being it is still read and recited today! Old Abe had a great way with words! Such deep emotion repressed. He told lots of great jokes too!

Loved Sam in the movie Lincoln and in Newsroom

I was working in Reading and before going home to Ohio I stopped and took an audio tour of Gettysburg. It was all so touching but when I got to the cemetery I was overcome. It’s and experience no one should miss.

I was moved to tears, despite knowing the Gettysburg Address. I love Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen. ❤ This needs played all over the internet, TV, anywhere that hundreds can hear each time it's played. Perhaps the extremists will not feel this was written with them in mind, but for us all, together, not divided. 😢❤

Hello, respect, admiration, and gratitude from São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷🇧🇷.

It is the best written speech in every way. The cadence, the content, the words themselves, and above all the meaning. Absolutely beautiful and we are so lucky to have this to cherish

Thank you for posting this wonderful video. The Gettysburg Address is so powerful and I feel so relevant to our nation today.

In my little hometown, American History is taught to 11th graders. Every year since the 1960s, the 11th grader with the highest grade in that class is chosen to recite the Gettysburg Address on Memorial Day at our cemetery. I love this tradition and the irony of “The world will little note nor long remember…”

Sam Waterston delivered Lincoln’s Cooper Union speech at Cooper Union. It is appropriate that he did this today.

Love you both! Thank you both from a grateful Vet 🙏🏼

Very touching moment!

Thank you, Mr. Waterson and Mr. Sheen for doing this. I had to memorize this dedication for a test in 8th grade. Have been to Gettysburg. May our democracy never perish. I would highly recommend the books about Lincoln in the Library of America book series.

Chills. I literally got chills listening to him recite this.

We had to memorize the Gettysburg Address for 8th grade history class & say it individually in front of the class in the middle 80s. Everyone in the class, and we were from all different backgrounds in a public school, took on the task with utmost respect. Looking back, I’m glad we had to do it.

This was so cool, to hear these stories and the speech given on the actual site in 1863. Wonderful!!

General Lee is back on the field of his greatest blunder. Hoorah!! Martin Sheen the absolute BEST General Robert E. Lee portrayal ever.

I absolutely respect and love Martin sheen he is just the nicest person.

Thank you ABT it was great Event to be with all of you in so nice moment in time. ❤️🍀🗽🗽🗽🍾🕊🕊🇸🇰

I love the story about the Library of Congress. This is the 2nd time I’ve heard it this weekend. Friday night’s version was in person.

Fantastic historical moment of all time. Congrats to Sam and Martin. This was aweet.

Memorized this in 5th grade some 58 years ago and I can still repeat it.

Even without his makeup and not in character, he delivered a fine Gettsyburg address as Lincoln!

This is so beautiful ❤️thank y'all for sharing this amazing experience

Beyond incredible!! Thank you for posting this marvelous bit of our fabulous American History!

Lincoln would love the levity of these folks at even such a solemn place.

Love Love Love this video!!!! At a time when you are scorned if you show love for your history and country

Love these two actors. Sam did an excellent job reading the Gettysburg Address.

I just got goosebumps. God Bless the United States of America

Imagine being on vacation or whatever, and you run into Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston. That would be pretty epic.

My admiration for these two men, great actors that I have loved to watch over many years, has just increased exponentially. What a wonderful event, and lesson in history for us all thanks to them. Bravo!

Possibly the most ironic statement of all of human history when Lincoln said “the world will little note or long remember what was said here.”

Two of my favorites reinforcing *why* they are two of my favorites.

Two great actors in awe of the history of that place and the people who made that history.

What an outstanding and humbling experience to watch. Mr. Waterston, when you re-enacted the pocket items with Mr. Sheen, my jaw dropped. You must have frozen not wanting to move. Very well done ABT!

I was there in March of 2015 & it was such an experience, so humbling and sad, my heart was so sad. Sadly to this day because I have changed cell phones & companies, & I need Started to print them off. We hope one day to take our kids, now 13 & 16.

The Gettysburg Address - just 272 words - is considered one of the finest examples of writing in the English language. The address lasted about two minutes while other speeches lasted hours. They are all forgotten!

At least Lincoln didn’t have to deal with sirens in the background! How inspiring! Thank you.

Very moving ✌️ peace 2024. My son and I visited, quite the experience

Thank you everyone. Sam and Martin, you are two of my favorite artists. Libraries, historical societies and You Tube are wonderful in equal measures. I truly treasure the freedom we all enjoy to be able to express our history in this way.

What a treat! Thank you for doing this. When I was young, I watched the Ken Burns Civil War series many times. To this day, whenever I read Lincoln's words, I hear Sam Waterston's voice in my head.

How thrilling! And, Tim, your voice and cadence reflected well, even in that company!

Sometimes the algorithm gets it right! Thanks RU-vid for serving this up to me!!

That’s so special! Thank you so much for sharing. Seeing these wonderful actors appreciate history, its meaning, and contributing items to support the non-profit organizations is just so special.

This is a beautiful video. Profound place and appreciate these gentlemen being there

There’s just something about Lincoln that mesmerizes me. I know that he suffered with serious melancholy (depression) and didn’t think very much about his abilities but man was he thoughtful and patriotic. This speech really shows how thoughtful he was.

Great actors bringing history to life! We need this more than ever.

Listening to that marvelous, beautiful address once again, thank you Sam, it occurs to me that a lot of that speech could apply to this country today. 💖

Nowadays, every single politician would fail the test of this address.

If you are interested in understanding how Lincoln crafted his speeches, and the vast literature he used to inform his writing, grab a copy of "Lincoln, The Biography of a Writer" by Fred Kaplan. Lincoln chose his words carefully, craftily, specifically, every word had its purpose in the sentence. The Gettysburg Address is masterful and powerful. It continues to inform us.

2 wonderful actors showing my favorite side of history, where the actual event took place stating the words used at the original event. History at its finest.

Wow, this has been the best video that I’ve seen in a long tome.Thank you, Mr Sheen, and Mr. Waterston. God Bless America♥🤍💙

Gettysburg is one of my very favorite movies. I never tire of watching it

Thank you very much for this clip

Sam is my favorite actor! Even today as I watch him read this Infamous Address I am just overwhelmed with heart filled gratitude to him for being one of the naturally sincere, empathic human being. To be able to deliver such an address with sincere emotion is appreciated. My heart is always full when I read any of Lincolns speeches. And I too become emotional with the beauty and power of Lincoln's written word. I am always overwhelmed with love and gratitude knowing that this beautiful country was graced by Abraham Lincoln the man and the President. If only his love and devotion for this country was evident today with our commanders in chief. Todays leaders are consumed by self and hatred of the other that only hurts the people of these United States. May we be blessed again with our successes and knowledge of our failures by our former Presidents.

I just watched these two on Grace and Frankie. Such great men! Love them both.❤

This was wonderful!!!!

I was there some 12 years ago (I used to work there), on the other side of that fence. A man guiding a trip of school children from a foreign country (I can't remember which) had the kids line up near the fence, and those kids recited the Gettysburg Address perfectly. Kids, from a foreign country. Blew my mind.

Gettysburg Address had to be memorized by school children back in the day. I repeated it to my kids many moons later. It still moves mr to tears sd some 600,000 Americans gave their lives for an idea

We spent our honeymoon @ Gettysburg in 1962 & I swear we walked the battlefield & identified places. .it was an unforgettable experience. Watching these two brilliant actors brought back to much of the beauty of our history .

Thank you ABT for sharing these moments with these 2 great actors with us.

Thank you 😊