by KYW's Paul Kurtz
 
February 12th, 2008 is the 199th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. And in keeping with tradition, the venerable Union League on South Broad Street held its traditional birthday bash for America's 16th president.

The celebration began outside the Broad Street landmark with echoes of a bygone era: men dressed in blue and gold uniforms, women in shawls and hoop skirts, a fife-and-drum corps, and a war-torn president who inspired a group of local men to form the Union League. 
 
The party soon moved inside and featured  two guests of honor -- Pennsylvania state attorney general Tom Corbett and Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter.

Nutter called Lincoln's work a testament to the American spirit:

"He lived and died so that someone like myself, a guy from 55th and Larchwood in West Philadelphia, could possible grow up and be mayor of Philadelphia one day. Abraham Lincoln is a true American hero, and it is a great honor just to be part of today's celebration."

This year's celebration also included a lot of talk about looking ahead to next year, when the Union League commemorates the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.