Springfield ceremony commemorates 147th anniversary of Lincoln's death

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- In Springfield, Illinois people gathered to honor the nation's 16th president.

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated 147 years ago. Saturday reenactors hosted the annual ceremony.

It was complete with a military procession to Lincoln’s tomb. Keynote note speakers for the ceremony say Lincoln is still relevant even in the 21st century.

"We as a society must move past a third grade understanding of Lincoln, recognize his faults, understand that he gave way to pettiness or anger, or pursued policies that seemed out of character to us today,” said Jeffry Burden

John Wilkes booth shot President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. He died the following morning.

Lincoln was 56 years old.