99 Year Old Celebration

Four score and 19 years ago Morris Gohrick was born near Tioga It may seem like an odd way to say he s 99 years old kind of a paraphrasing of a famous presidential speech But as you re about to see that speech the Gettysburg Address is something Morris is very familiar with Jim Olson shows us Jim Olson KX News When residents of Tioga Medical Center s long term care facility gathered for a birthday party this week they heard a famous speech Morris Gohrick Tioga Four score and seven years ago Jim Olson KX News Delivered from memory by the man celebrating his 99th birthday Morris Gohrick Tioga a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the Constitution that all men are created equal Why is that so special to you Well it always stayed with me I liked it Jim Olson KX News Of course there was much more to the party including cake good wishes and the appropriate song Singing Happy Birthday Jim Olson KX News Morris remembers a lot about his near century as a farm kid Morris Gohrick Tioga I was born on a farm 10 miles north of Tioga Jim Olson KX News and a farmer Morris Gohrick Tioga I farmed since I was nine ten years old Jim Olson KX News Especially the 1930s Morris Gohrick Tioga I sold wheat for 27 cents a bushel Jim Olson KX News And a particularly nasty winter in the mid 1940s Morris Gohrick Tioga For 30 days the temperature never got about 20 below zero It went all the way to 60 below with a 40 or 50 mile an hour wind Jim Olson KX News And who could doubt his memory Morris Gohrick Tioga There was no wind chill Jim Olson KX News After all Morris recites the Gettysburg Address with barely a pause Morris Gohrick Tioga We cannot dedicate We cannot consecrate We cannot hallow this ground Brave men living or dead have consecrated this far above our poor power to add or detract I learned that in the seventh grade And here you are at 99 still able to say it word for word Morris Gohrick Tioga and that the government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from this Earth I thank you Jim Olson KX News Happy 99th birthday Morris In Tioga Jim Olson KX News By the way Morris has a brother who s still alive he s 101 and living in New Mexico