This is the encoding stage, the first stage when we receive external input for memory. This can come in the form of visual stimuli, acoustic stimuli and semantic meaning of the event, it is when the situation is going on and the brain/mind is making sense of it, if there is no such event there cannot be an experience to think about in the future. At least semantic meaning must be coupled with the stimuli as we have to ascribe a meaning to the situations we come across, and in some, if not most cases, the three forms are coupled to form the basis of memory.
The other stages are storage and retrieval. The storage stage is related to how long, how well and how a given event interacts with other events in one's life. The last stage is the retrieval stage which is when we try to remember a given stuation.
The quote from the Gettysburg Address details how Lincoln used phrases in his speech to remind his listeners of the American ideals of liberty, equality, and the responsibility of government. Lincoln asserts to the people that it is their duty as survivors of fallen soldiers to uphold the ideals that they gave their lives for. Lincoln also cites religion, "...under God..." to support the idea of freedom and liberty for all people. He also defends the idea of the people and government having the responsibility to ensure that the government is representative of the wants and needs of the citizens, "...government of the people, by the people..."
