Kroschell to sing the song that was never sung

Piece was to have been performed at Ford’s theatre the night of Lincoln’s assassination

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Historical Society will present vocalist Jacqueline Kroschell performing “Honor To Our Soldiers” on Sunday, April 13, at the Columns Museum.

Kroschell is an artistic director and a soprano, one who starred in the recent New York Premiere of “Me, Myself, and God” at St. Peter’s Church. Kroschell’s Broadway and off-Broadway achievements consist of “Man of La Mancha,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Tamara” “and Pirates of Penzance.” While touring with The Opera Theatre of New York, Kroschell was presented with the chance to found Cameo and create dozens of programs. She has also performed Gilbert & Sullivan and opera roles with New York City Opera, L.O.O.M., Lake George Opera, The Contemporary Opera of New York and the Stratford Festival Company.

Kroschell, who was endorsed by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission as the only authorized singer for Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, is scheduled to sing a song entitled “Honor to Our Soldiers,” a piece of music that was to have been performed by the cast of the play at the conclusion of the performance of “Our American Cousin” for President Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of his attendance at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. Lincoln was assassinated during the third act and the play was never finished.

Jeannie Gourlay, a member of the cast, was to have worn a special costume for this performance, a gown with red and white alternating vertical stripes with each red stripe bearing a row of white stars that has since become know as the “Stars and Stripes.” The gown was never worn. It will be on display at the museum on April 12 and 13, the first time it has been publicly displayed in five years due to its fragile condition.