In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday and to thank the community for its continued support, Sandhills Community College is bringing the community a series of free lectures, speeches, dramatic performances and a very special musical event.

Actor and educator Fred Morsell will be onstage in Owens Auditorium Wednesday, Feb. 11. His one-man show, "Presenting Mr. Frederick Douglass," expresses Douglass' life, message of justice, and keys to success. The performance begins at 7:30 pm.

Jeff Shaara, the best-selling author of "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure," will speak Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. After the lecture in Owens Auditorium, Shaara will answer questions and sign books.

Savor the sounds of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Sunday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. in Owens Auditorium. This free concert, Copland, Mozart and Dvorak, captures the sounds of America, Austria and Bohemia. Aaron Copland's powerful masterpiece, "A Lincoln Portrait," features sections from Lincoln's letters and speeches. Short biographical details are interspersed throughout this musical portrait. The concert will also contain Mozart's "First Flute Concerto" and Dvorak's "Symphony No. 8."

Kathryn M. Harris, library services director at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, will present her one-woman play, "Harriet Tubman," Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. in Owens Auditorium. Harris' show portrays the faith, tenacity, bravery, determination, and courage of a person who was called "the Moses of her People."

Additionally, at 7:30 p.m. that evening, Harris will hold an informal discussion in the Teresa C. Wood Reading Room in the Boyd Library. Her position at The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Ill., has given her a wealth of knowledge on "all things Lincoln."

On display for the entire month of February in Boyd Library will be hundreds of Lincoln artifacts and materials including portraits, statuary and memorabilia. These items are on loan from the personal collections of George Hoffman, of Seven Lakes North and Paul Brill, of Southern Pines.

Also, a scale model of Lincoln's burial train, created by Charles Zuhone, of Pinehurst, along with burial train materials, will be on display in the library.

All events included in the Abraham Lincoln 200th Birthday Celebration are free and open to the public.

The Sandhills Community College Foundation is underwriting all costs. ?