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Abraham Lincoln's Father To Be Honored For Military Service

(CBS) -- Lincoln historians and fans will be celebrating the life and service of the 16th President's father this weekend.

Lincoln's Father To Be Honored For Military Service

When Abraham Lincoln joined the Illinois militia, he was following in his father's footsteps.

"In the Blackhawk War, Abraham Lincoln joined the volunteers when the governor called for the militia," said Matthew Mittelstaedt of the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site.

He says that Thomas Lincoln will be honored this weekend with a marker recognizing his military service. Descendants of the Lincoln family will lay a memorial wreath at Thomas Lincoln's grave in Lerna, Illinois.

"Thomas Lincoln is being honored for his service during the period of the War of 1812," said Mittelstaedt.

Nearly 30 years after Thomas Lincoln served in the Kentucky militia, Abraham Lincoln served in the Illinois militia during the Blackhawk War of 1832.

The Daughters of 1812 award plaques to any American who saw military service between 1784 and 1815.

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