Representatives of White House Historical Association, U.S. Consulate, Scottish Government, and City of Edinburgh Council Lay Wreaths at Restored Abraham Lincoln Statue in New Presidents’ Day Tradition

Feb 21, 2022 Edinburgh, Scotland —

On Presidents’ Day, wreaths were laid at the foot of the Abraham Lincoln statue and war memorial at the Old Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh. The new annual tradition has been initiated by the White House Historical Association, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and providing access to White House history.

Association President, Stewart McLaurin, traveled to Edinburgh over the Christmas Period and visited the monument, which was inaugurated in 1893 to commemorate Scottish soldiers who died in the Union Army during The American Civil War. The memorial includes a statue of the 16th President, the first statue of any American president in Europe and still the sole statue of a U.S. president in Scotland, and a freed slave, and is also believed to be the only memorial to the Civil War outside the USA. Inspired by this and his own Scottish roots, McLaurin proposed a new annual tradition of marking on Presidents’ Day Lincoln’s life and the historic relationship between Scotland and the United States.

Learn more about Abraham Lincoln and the Scottish connection here.

U.S. Consul General Jack Hillmeyer laid a wreath on behalf of the Association and the U.S. Government alongside Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson MSP, and City of Edinburgh’s Culture and Communities Vice Convener Councillor, Amy McNeese-Mechan.

The occasion will also see the unveiling of a minor restoration of the statue, which had been missing a spearhead on one of its regimental flags for over 40 years. The spearhead had been broken off and collected for repairs, sitting in various workshops for this time and had been thought lost. It was of great surprise when it was returned to the council in late 2021 by a now-retired employee now living in Spain who had kept it for safekeeping during various workshop moves.

“To see a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Edinburgh is a thrilling reminder of how he bent American history towards the arc of justice—and of our nation’s deep ties and everlasting friendship with Scotland,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association.

“The United States and Scotland share many deep and profound connections. The Scottish- American Soldiers Monument provides a constant reminder that our close relationship even extends to the field of battle,” said Jack Hillmeyer, U.S. Consul General. “This ceremony is a fitting tribute to Lincoln, whose shining example of leadership during America’s darkest hour continues to inspire, and the Scots who were moved to fight for freedom and equality on American shores.”

“It is an honour to mark Presidents’ Day 2022 on behalf of the Scottish Government. The relationship between Scotland and the US is strong and our personal and cultural ties are enduring and longstanding,” said Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central. “The restoration of the monument and the inaugural wreath-laying event are a testament to the power of these historical connections and a welcome sign that these connections will endure long into the future.”

“As possibly the first-ever Edinburgh city councillor born in the U.S.A., I grew up in the Land of Lincoln – the State of Illinois – and attended Abraham Lincoln Elementary School! I’m therefore so pleased to be able to participate in celebrating the historical, cultural, and political links between our two countries at our newly restored statue of the 16th President, known as the Great Emancipator,” added Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Edinburgh’s Culture and Communication Vice Convener.

The event is also being recognized by many in the United States, including Ian Houston, President of the Scottish Business Network Americas in Washington, D.C., who said, “Lincoln had a passion for Scotland and was a consumer of Scottish poets and writers. The placement of this wreath on President’s Day and just after his birth pays both tribute to his memory and the special connection between Scotland and the United States.

For more information, contact:

• The White House Historical Association at press@whha.org
• Michael Sturrock at Michael.Sturrock@parliament.scot
• U.S. Consulate General Edinburgh at HoganPE@state.gov