Library brings history to life

Sgt. Matthew Kenney, far left, led his Union soldiers in a bayonet charge drill at the East Meadow Public Library on May 31.

Susan Grieco/Herald

Diane Fish shows Eric Rosen how to play the traditional game “Shut the Box.”

Susan Grieco/Herald

Confederate soldier Garrett Hamilton took aim.

Susan Grieco/Herald

• 
• 
• 

The East Meadow Public Library brought a dose of the 19th century into its building last weekend, when it hosted “Lincoln: The Constitution and Civil War.”

Scattered throughout the day on Saturday were educational programs focused on our nation’s 16th president and the American Civil War.

Furthering the anachronistic tone was Civil War re-enactors from Co. K, 67th NYVI First Long Island, who performed live demonstrations for the hundreds of spectators.

The program was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for Humanities. The traveling exhibit was organized by the The National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office.

The exhibit will continue on June 10 at 12:30 p.m., when Bud Livingston presents “Little Known Facts About Abe Lincoln.” On June 26 at 7:30 p.m., James Weidman presents improvisations and impressions of slave songs. On June 23, the library will play the silent movie “Birth of a Nation” (1915), featuring speakers Dylan Skolnick, William Jennings, and John Carpenter at 6 p.m., and on June 30, the silent movie “Within Our Gates” (1920) will air at 7:30 p.m.