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The new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. debut on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.
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‘Forever Free’: New Abraham Lincoln statue unveiled in Wilkinsburg

Ben Braun/Post-Gazette

‘Forever Free’: New Abraham Lincoln statue unveiled in Wilkinsburg

Girl Scouts waving American flags and an Abraham Lincoln impersonator — with top hat, scruffy beard and all — marched to the beat of a drum and trombone down Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg.

This Saturday morning celebration with patriotic music and decorations honored the borough’s new Abraham Lincoln statue, which was erected at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard on the Historic Lincoln Highway. About 75 people came together to unveil the life-like, 400-pound bronze statue of the 16th President of the United States.

Numerous speakers reiterated that the 6-foot-4 statue celebrates Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator.” The statue shows Lincoln deep in thought in the moments before he reads his Emancipation Proclamation speech on Jan. 1, 1863. He’s also holding the document — which proclaimed that slaves were free — in his left hand.

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The new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. is surrounded by spectators for the first time to be photographed and celebrated on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg. (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)

“When we think about the Emancipation Proclamation, it was the beginning, it was a construct, it was a path to free opportunity for people all over this country, regardless of their race, to demonstrate that they were free to be great,” said Jonathan Ray, the executive director of Pittsburgh’s Urban Christian School.

Prominent sculptor Susan Wagner, who designed the statue, took off the red sheet covering it. The Penn Hills native has designed other Pittsburgh staples including the Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell statues at PNC Park; the Policeman’s Memorial on the North Shore and the statue of Dr. Thomas Starzl, the organ transplant pioneer, at the University of Pittsburgh.


Kevin Santillo in an Abraham Lincoln costume waves to spectators during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.(Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)

Ms. Wagner thanked her friends for helping with the project and said to young creatives in the audience, “Don’t let anyone ever tell you no, that it doesn’t matter. Follow your heart, because it does matter.”

“You have really made me come alive,” cheerfully chipped in Abe Lincoln, played by Kevin Santillo.

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The Wilkinsburg Historical Society also presented a plaque named “Forever Free” to commemorate today’s dedication and Ms. Wagner.


Kevin Santillo, in an Abraham Lincoln costume, makes his remarks about Susan Wagner’s newest bronze sculpture on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.(Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)

“So often with these beautiful works of art, the person who artistically created them is sort of lost because it's not labeled,” said Historical Society president Anne Elise Morris. “Well, we decided we weren't gonna have that happen to ours. We wanted a Wagner for Wilkinsburg, and we got it and we wanted to make sure it was labeled.”

Ms. Morris spearheaded the $70,000 fundraising process to build the statue, which has been publicly displayed at the Wilkinsburg Borough Municipal Building since late February while a black granite base was built.


Chantal Braziel performs Lift Every Voice and Sing during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.(Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)

The new statue replaced another Lincoln statue that stood at the crossroads of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard for more than a century before being brought inside the Borough Building two years ago. Pamela Macklin, the Wilkinsburg Council President, said she hopes to make a permanent place in the council chambers to display the old statue.

The celebration attracted people of all ages. Five Girl Scouts from Plum Borough led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The troop collected coins at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to donate to the statue — ultimately raising $161.34.


Tania Grubbs performs the Star-Spangled Banner during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.(Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)

“These girls saved up all of their pennies, and we had a big jar and they did a really nice job saving up to help Abe Lincoln,” said troop leader Holly Makin, of Plum.

Music also played a large role in the ceremony, with back-to-back performances from jazz-artist Tania Grubbs of the “Star Spangled Banner” followed by Chantal Braziel’s rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — which is commonly referred to as the Black national anthem.

Rebecca Johnson: rjohnson@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rebeccapaigejo 


The new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. debut on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.(Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)

First Published: July 24, 2021, 8:51 p.m.

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The new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. debut on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
The new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. is surrounded by spectators for the first time to be photographed and celebrated on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Andrew Stocky from WTAE Channel 4 news welcomes spectators to the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Keith Cochran plays the accordion during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Spectators hold their phones out while Susan Wagner, the sculptor, pulls the cover off the new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
(L-R)Rose Casanova, 8, waves her flag, while Javier Casanova, 5, sits in his mothers, Ariel Haughton lap while his father, Leonardo Casanova, places a hat upon his head during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Kevin Santillo, in an Abraham Lincoln costume, leads a parade during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Ceil Antinori and Mimi Klein share a laugh during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
The new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. debut on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Kevin Santillo in an Abraham Lincoln costume waves to spectators during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Susan Wagner, the sculptor, reveals the new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Kevin Santillo, in an Abraham Lincoln costume, is bombarded with balloons while he sits during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Kevin Santillo, in an Abraham Lincoln costume, makes his remarks about Susan Wagner’s newest bronze sculpture on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Chantal Braziel performs Lift Every Voice and Sing during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Tania Grubbs performs the Star-Spangled Banner during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Tania Grubbs performs the Star-Spangled Banner during the revealing of a new bronze Abraham Lincoln statue at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Blvd. on July 24, 2021, in Wilkinsburg.  (Ben Braun/Post-Gazette)
Ben Braun/Post-Gazette
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