School's record-breaking attempt falls short

Talk about it

Red Wing students joined with about 180,000 others across America in reciting the Gettysburg Address, but it wasn't enough to break a world record.

Participants fell about 40,000 people short on Feb. 12 of the 223,363 Guinness Book world record for a simultaneous reading. Hundreds of students at Twin Bluff Middle School and Burnside Elementary participated in the event.

"Nonetheless it was a great experience to have our kids be part of history by bringing history alive," Burnside Principal Sheila Beckner said Monday via e-mail.

The national event commemorated President Lincoln's 200th birthday. Organizers said another attempt will be made in 2011 to commemorate the Civil War sesquicentennial.

Tags: state and region, gettysburg address, education, redwing, daily updates